Analogue dairy crackdown: What it means for your food and health

Analogue dairy products, such as cheese analogues and cream substitutes, are gaining attention due to food safety concerns in India. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has directed the sale of such products to be labelled as dairy products only if they contain actual dairy ingredients. Online food delivery platforms, including Zomato, are reviewing their listings to ensure compliance with this directive.

Zomato has announced a zero-tolerance policy for restaurants listed on its platform that offer analogue dishes. Restaurants must remove products containing analogue dairy from their menus or review product labels to ensure accurate representation of ingredients. Non-compliant restaurants will be delisted from the platform.

Experts advise consumers to read ingredient lists and nutrition information before purchasing analogue dairy products. These products may have different nutritional profiles, including lower protein or calcium content and higher saturated fat or sodium levels. Consumers should also be cautious about assuming that a product labelled as cheese, cream, or butter is nutritionally identical to traditional dairy.

For vegans and those lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy, accurately labelled plant-based alternatives can be useful. However, it is essential to distinguish between products formulated as plant-based alternatives and those marketed as conventional dairy. Those with milk allergies must avoid milk proteins entirely and not rely on the "analogue" or "plant-based" labels.

When ordering food, consumers should focus on transparency and check ingredient and allergen information rather than relying on product names or appearances. The main concern is making informed choices about overall diet quality, ensuring sufficient protein and calcium intake, and selecting foods based on individual nutritional needs rather than assuming one product type is inherently better or worse than another.