What is analogue dairy? Zomato bans such dishes to ‘safeguard customer health’ and ‘uphold clear standards’

Zomato has banned analogue dairy dishes from its Indian platform to ensure customer health and maintain clear standards. The new policy, effective immediately, requires restaurants to replace analogue dairy ingredients with natural dairy products or remove affected dishes from their menus. Restaurants with repeated non-compliance may be removed from the platform.

Analogue dairy refers to imitation foods resembling conventional milk products, made by partly or fully replacing milk components with non-milk ingredients. These products may contain vegetable fats, starches, plant proteins, emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickeners, whiteners, flavours or preservatives. While not inherently unsafe, risks arise from poor ingredients, hydrogenated fats, contamination or excessive processing.

Clear labels are crucial for allergies, diets, nutrition and informed purchasing decisions. Zomato's decision aligns with its mission to provide better food and uphold transparency, joining other regulatory actions against misleading analogue products.