The Maharashtra government has imposed a one-year statewide ban on the manufacture, processing, packing, storage, transportation, distribution, wholesale and retail sale of analogue (non-dairy) paneer, intensifying its crackdown on adulterated dairy products and consumer fraud. The order, issued by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on July 30, 2026, comes into immediate effect and makes Maharashtra the second Indian state after Chhattisgarh to prohibit analogue paneer.
Authorities said the move was prompted by public health concerns and the widespread practice of selling products made with vegetable fats, palm oil, starch and other non-dairy ingredients as genuine milk-based paneer without proper disclosure. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, violators can face up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, while offences involving unsafe food that result in death may attract life imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹10 lakh.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that mislabelling analogue paneer as dairy paneer constitutes an unfair trade practice and will invite strict legal action. The decision follows an intensified statewide drive against food adulteration and reinforces the government’s focus on strengthening food safety, consumer protection, and transparency in the dairy value chain. (indiatoday.in)
Source: Dairynews7x7 5 Aug, 2026 Read full story here
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