Punjab becomes the latest state to prohibit non-dairy paneer, following similar action in Karnataka and other states
Analogue paneer may face a nationwide ban, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) preparing to introduce restrictions following a series of state-level actions against the non-dairy product.
Rajit Punhani, Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, said the issue was a concern across the country and that state food control departments were also seeking action against analogue paneer. He said a nationwide prohibition on its use would be announced soon.
Punjab became the latest state to impose a one-year ban on analogue or non-dairy paneer on 27 August. The order covers the manufacture, processing, preparation, packing, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of such products.
The move follows similar action by several other states. Karnataka imposed a one-year ban earlier this month on the manufacture, processing, packing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer marketed as paneer. The order remains in force until 17 August 2027.
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have also taken action against analogue paneer, according to recent reports.
Gujarat has taken a broader approach, prohibiting the production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of analogue paneer, cheese and butter. The action followed inspections and laboratory tests in which officials found products being sold as dairy products despite not meeting prescribed standards.
The state-level crackdown comes amid concerns over products that resemble dairy foods but are made partly or entirely with non-dairy ingredients. Analogue paneer can involve replacing milk fat or milk solids with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients.
FSSAI Examines Dairy Analogues
The issue is also being examined at the national level. FSSAI’s Central Advisory Committee has considered proposals concerning dairy analogues, including restrictions on their loose sale and menu labelling by hotels, restaurants and caterers.
The committee has noted that specific quality parameters for dairy analogues, particularly analogue paneer, were not defined, making enforcement difficult. It has also raised concerns that such products could be used as substitutes for dairy products without providing comparable nutritional benefits.
In April, FSSAI’s West Region directed food businesses to comply with labelling requirements for cheese analogues. The regulator said selling a cheese analogue as paneer constituted a violation and directed food businesses to stop the practice.
A possible nationwide prohibition would mark a shift from the current patchwork of state-level restrictions towards a common national approach for analogue paneer.
Faster Food Safety Action
Punhani also stressed the need for faster enforcement of food safety rules. While unsafe food that is harmful to health can attract criminal proceedings, cases involving misbranding and sub-standard food are subject to penalties.
He said more than 100 people had been jailed in food safety cases since January and that faster disposal of cases was necessary to maintain consumer confidence in enforcement.
Punhani said consumers could report suspected food adulteration through the Food Safety Connect application, including by uploading photographs of the product. Complaints are forwarded to the food safety commissioner of the concerned state.
The regulator is also working on measures covering ultra-processed foods, front-of-pack warning labels and food-related claims made by brands and influencers.
For food sold online, Punhani said ecommerce platforms had been given until 30 September to ensure manufacturing and expiry dates are displayed on their platforms.
The proposed nationwide action on analogue paneer comes as state regulators increasingly scrutinise the sale of non-dairy substitutes under the name of conventional dairy products, raising concerns around both food safety and consumer information.
