Zomato has removed reported listings for imitation paneer and dairy substitutes and asked restaurants to verify their ingredient labels.
Zomato has introduced a stricter approach to listings involving imitation paneer and other analogue dairy products, removing reported dishes from its platform and asking restaurant partners to verify the ingredients used in the food they sell.
The move comes as concerns around counterfeit and substitute dairy products grow across India. Zomato said it has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards dishes that use analogue dairy products and will remove reported listings that do not meet its requirements.
The company said restaurant partners must ensure that the ingredients mentioned on their menus accurately reflect what is being served to customers. Restaurants that are unable to immediately replace imitation dairy products have been advised to remove the affected items from their menus until they can meet the required standards.
Zomato tightens rules on analogue dairy.
According to Zomato, dishes reported by restaurant partners as containing analogue dairy products have already been removed from the platform. The company said the policy is intended to improve transparency in food listings and protect consumer interests.
Restaurants have also been asked to review supplier-provided labels and ingredient declarations to verify the composition of the products they use. This is particularly relevant for paneer and other dairy products that may look similar to traditional dairy-based ingredients but contain non-dairy components.
Zomato has indicated that restaurants continuing to sell analogue dairy products without complying with its requirements could be removed from the platform.
The company is effectively placing greater responsibility on restaurant partners to ensure that their menus accurately describe the food being offered to customers.
What is analogue paneer?
Traditional paneer is produced from milk. Analogue paneer, by contrast, is generally manufactured using a combination of ingredients such as vegetable oils, starches, emulsifiers and other components designed to replicate some of the characteristics of conventional paneer.
These products can be made to resemble dairy paneer in appearance, texture and cooking behaviour. However, they are not the same as traditional paneer made from milk and have a different composition.
The distinction becomes particularly important when such products are sold or described to consumers as conventional dairy products.
Zomato’s new approach focuses on making sure customers are not misled about the ingredients used in the dishes they order through the platform.
Why fake paneer is facing greater analysis
The issue comes amid increased scrutiny of counterfeit and imitation paneer across several parts of India. According to the supplied information, the manufacturing, storage, transportation and retail sale of counterfeit paneer have been prohibited in multiple states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
The growing attention reflects concerns about food safety, product authenticity and the accuracy of information provided to consumers.
For food-delivery platforms, the challenge is particularly significant because customers generally rely on restaurant descriptions when ordering meals. When an ingredient is substituted without clear disclosure, consumers may not know what they are actually purchasing.
Zomato’s policy therefore emphasizes accurate menu information and supplier documentation.
Restaurants asked to check supplier labels.
Zomato has asked restaurant partners to verify the labels and ingredient declarations supplied by manufacturers and distributors. The objective is to ensure that food items listed on the platform correspond with the ingredients actually being used in restaurant kitchens.
Restaurants that cannot make the necessary switch immediately have been advised to remove dishes containing imitation dairy products rather than continue listing them without adequate disclosure.
This approach also places greater importance on the supply chain. Restaurants need to know not only what their suppliers describe a product as, but also what ingredients it actually contains.
The policy could therefore encourage restaurants to pay closer attention to packaging, ingredient declarations and sourcing practices when purchasing paneer and other dairy-related products.
Zomato says customer health remains central.
Zomato CEO Aditya Mangla said protecting customers’ health is fundamental to the company’s objective of providing better food access and that the company maintains strict guidelines governing what partner restaurants can sell on the platform.
The company said its latest policy reflects that broader commitment and will require cooperation from restaurant partners to ensure that food listings remain accurate.
The emphasis on transparency also reflects a wider challenge for online food platforms. As consumers increasingly depend on digital menus rather than physical restaurant interactions, the accuracy of information displayed online becomes an important part of the customer experience.
Zomato announces workforce restructuring.
The fake paneer policy comes at the same time as Zomato is undergoing an operational restructuring that has reportedly affected around 250 employees.
As part of the changes, the company has decided to shut its Customer Delight operations in Hyderabad and consolidate its remaining in-house functions at a single Gurgaon location. Around 240 employees in Hyderabad are expected to be affected by the restructuring.
According to the supplied information, Zomato said the workforce reduction was linked to changes in its customer-support model and organisational requirements rather than employee performance.
The restructuring forms part of an assessment of the company’s operating model and customer-service requirements, with Zomato reducing its team size while consolidating certain functions.
A broader focus on food transparency
Zomato’s action on analogue paneer highlights the increasingly important role food-delivery platforms play in the relationship between restaurants and consumers.
The platform does not manufacture the food being sold, but the information presented through its marketplace influences what customers believe they are ordering. That makes accurate ingredient information an important part of maintaining consumer trust.
By requiring restaurants to verify supplier labels and remove dishes that do not meet its standards, Zomato is taking a more direct position on the products listed on its platform.
For restaurants, the message is straightforward. If a product is being used as a substitute for traditional dairy, its composition needs to be understood and represented accurately. Where a restaurant cannot meet those requirements, the affected item may need to be removed from the menu.
The policy comes as Indian authorities and consumers pay closer attention to the authenticity of packaged and prepared food. For Zomato, the latest move places food transparency and ingredient verification at the centre of its relationship with restaurant partners.
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