MUMBAI/CHENNAI, March 5 (Reuters) - An executive at

McDonald's biggest Indian franchisee Westlife

Foodworld's said on Tuesday the country's food

standards authority had verified its claims of using "real

cheese" in its food products after a crackdown by Maharashtra

state.

The Western state of Maharashtra in November suspended the

license of one of McDonald's outlets in the east of Mumbai for

allegedly using cheese analogues of vegetable oil instead of

"real cheese" and misleading consumers.

The state later revoked the suspension after an appeal

by Westlife, which dropped the word "cheese" from some of its

products including burgers and nuggets in December.

Following the decision from the Food Safety and

Standards Authority of India, Westlife can use names of cheese

in all its products given that cheese is one of the key

ingredients, Managing Director Saurabh Kalra said in a press

conference.