{
  "id": 4622486,
  "title": "Zomato Bans Analogue Cheese, Paneer And Dairy Products, Warns Restaurants Of Delisting",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/zomato-bans-analogue-cheese-paneer-and-dairy-products-warns",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-31T09:39:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/zomato-bans-analogue-cheese-paneer-and-dairy-products-warns-restaurants-of-delisting"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Food delivery giant Zomato has implemented a stringent zero-tolerance policy prohibiting the sale of dishes containing analogue cheese, paneer, and other substitute dairy products. Restaurants listed on its platform that refuse to comply risk being delisted. Analogue dairy products, often made with cheaper vegetable oils instead of conventional milk or dairy ingredients, aim to mimic the look and feel of authentic products. Zomato immediately removes any identified analogue dairy dishes from its platform. The decision follows heightened food safety scrutiny prompted by Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration and FSSAI inspections in Delhi. Zomato believes the policy will enhance transparency and ensure customers receive accurately described food that meets quality expectations. The company urges restaurants to transition to natural dairy ingredients where possible, but if not feasible, to remove affected dishes from their menus. Zomato is also urging restaurants to verify product labels and ingredient disclosures supplied by vendors to ensure ingredient accuracy. Restaurants found in violation may face delisting, as well as other penalties under internal policies and applicable laws. CEO Aditya Mangla emphasized the policy as part of Zomato's commitment to customer protection and maintaining strict food standards through its platform, placing the onus on restaurant partners to accurately disclose ingredients and comply with food safety regulations.",
  "summary": "Food delivery platform Zomato has announced a zero-tolerance policy against the sale of dishes containing analogue cheese, paneer and other substitute dairy products through restaurants listed on its platform. The company said restaurants that fail to comply could be removed from the platform. Analogue dairy products typically use cheaper alternatives such as vegetable oils instead of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Zomato bans analogue paneer on its platform, asks restaurants to switch to dairy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/zomato-bans-analogue-paneer-on-its-platform-asks-restaurants-to",
        "published": "2026-08-31T07:44:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Zomato bans these dishes on its platform with immediate effect",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/zomato-bans-these-dishes-on-its-platform-with-immediate-effect",
        "published": "2026-08-31T07:54:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Zomato bans analogue dishes on its platform, to delist non-compliant restaurant partners",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/zomato-bans-analogue-dishes-on-its-platform-to-delist-non-compliant",
        "published": "2026-08-31T10:50:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}