Chandigarh: The Punjab government has imposed a one-year ban on the production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer across the state, stepping up action against products that imitate conventional dairy paneer.
The order has been issued by Punjab’s Food and Drugs Administration under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Following the order, food business operators will not be permitted to manufacture or sell analogue paneer under any name during the period of the ban.
What Is Analogue Paneer?
Unlike traditional paneer, which is made from milk, analogue paneer is a non-dairy imitation in which dairy ingredients can be replaced with ingredients such as vegetable fats or oils and other components.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has previously taken a strict position on cheese analogues being passed off as paneer. In April, the regulator clarified that selling cheese analogue as “paneer” violates food safety regulations and directed manufacturers and food businesses to ensure accurate product identification and labelling.
The issue has attracted increasing regulatory attention over concerns that consumers may unknowingly purchase or consume non-dairy substitutes believing them to be genuine paneer.
Punjab Ban Covers Production To Sale
Punjab’s restrictions go beyond retail sale. The one-year prohibition covers the entire chain — production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of analogue paneer in the state.
The move could have a direct impact on food businesses, including establishments that have relied on cheaper paneer substitutes in their preparations.
Punjab is not alone in tightening restrictions. Several other states have recently acted against analogue paneer amid concerns over food safety and the misleading sale of non-dairy substitutes as genuine dairy products.
