Zomato Bans Sale Of Analogue Dishes On Its Platform

Amid growing concerns over analogue paneer, Zomato has announced a zero-tolerance policy against the sale of dishes containing analogue dairy products on its platform. It has also warned restaurant partners that non-compliance would result in their delisting.

The company said that, with immediate effect, it has removed dishes that restaurant partners had declared as containing analogue dairy from its platform.

Analogue dairy products are substitutes designed to mimic conventional dairy products such as cheese, butter or milk and use vegetable oils, starches and other non-dairy ingredients.

Under the new policy, restaurants have been asked to either transition to natural dairy products or remove items containing analogue products from menus if an immediate transition is not feasible.

Restaurant partners have also been directed to review product labels and ingredient declarations provided by suppliers to verify the ingredients being used and ensure that food items are accurately represented on Zomato.

“At Zomato, our core mission is better food for more people, and that means safeguarding customer health and upholding clear standards for what’s listed and served by our restaurant partners,” Zomato CEO Aditya Mangla said.

The move is aimed at improving transparency and food quality for consumers, Zomato said, adding that the policy is part of its broader push towards healthier food choices and greater disclosure around the food being sold through its platform.

The development comes as food delivery platforms face increasing scrutiny over food quality, ingredient disclosure and the accuracy of claims made by restaurants and food brands listed on their platforms.

The crackdown also sheds light on the growing focus of regulators on food quality, hygiene and transparency as online platforms increasingly become a key channel through which consumers purchase food and grocery products. 

Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the licences of 14 food establishments linked to Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart following a statewide inspection drive that uncovered food safety and hygiene violations. 

The regulator had inspected 86 dark stores and also issued 60 improvement notices.

The post Zomato Bans Sale Of Analogue Dishes On Its Platform appeared first on Inc42 Media.