Zomato Implements Strict Ban on Analogue Dairy Products: What You Need to Know
Zomato's New Policy on Food Safety
New Delhi: On Monday, Zomato, a prominent food delivery service, declared a strict zero-tolerance stance against the sale of analogue food items, which include substitutes like analogue cheese and paneer, by restaurants on its platform. The company emphasized that it holds the authority to remove any restaurant that fails to comply with this new policy.
This decision aligns with heightened scrutiny on food safety, particularly following a recent crackdown by the Food and Drug Administration in Maharashtra and inspections conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) at luxury hotels in Delhi. Zomato announced that any dishes identified by restaurant partners as containing 'analogue dairy' will be immediately removed from its listings.
In a message sent to its restaurant partners, Zomato stated, "Our main goal is to guarantee that customers receive food that is accurately represented, safe, and meets high-quality standards."
The company further explained, "We are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding the listing and distribution of food items that include analogue cheese, analogue paneer, and other analogue dairy products on our platform." This initiative aims to enhance transparency and food quality for consumers, adhering to food safety regulations.
Zomato urged its restaurant partners to take swift actions, such as switching to natural dairy products, eliminating items with analogue dairy from their menus if an immediate transition isn't possible, and reviewing product labels and ingredient declarations from suppliers to ensure accurate ingredient representation.
The company warned that any restaurant found in violation of this policy could face delisting from the platform and other actions as permitted by their policies and applicable laws. Additionally, Zomato retains the right to recover any losses or expenses incurred due to the delivery of non-compliant products.