The government is moving to prohibit analogue or “synthetic” paneer as part of a major tightening of dairy standards, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) aiming to protect nutritional integrity and prevent consumer deception in one of the country’s key protein sources.
The proposal, finalised by FSSAI’s Central Advisory Committee in October 2025 and formally adopted on March 2, 2026 under CEO Rajit Punhani, seeks to ban the manufacture and sale of paneer analogues—products typically made from vegetable oils, starch, and milk solids that mimic real paneer but offer lower nutritional value.
Regulators highlighted that these non-dairy substitutes are often high in fat and low in nutrition, and are frequently sold in loose markets as genuine paneer, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between authentic dairy products and imitations. (mint)
Authorities argue that allowing such products to coexist without strict standards risks misleading consumers, especially given limited awareness levels, and have recommended restricting the manufacture and sale of dairy analogues that lack defined regulatory standards.
The move comes amid broader enforcement efforts to curb adulteration and mislabelling in India’s dairy sector, where regulators are increasingly focused on ensuring that only milk-based products are marketed as paneer, reinforcing food safety, transparency, and quality standards across the value chain.
Source: Dairynews7x7 5 May, 2026 Read full story here
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