Maharashtra has slapped a complete ban on analouge paneer, making it the second state in the country to do so after Chhattisgarh. The order, signed off by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on July 30, shuts down the manufacture, sale, storage, transport and distribution of this artificial, nondairy version of paneer across the state, with the rule kicking in immediately.
Why The Ban?
The state government’s reasoning centres on public health. Officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have made clear that the real problem isn’t analouge paneer existing at all. It’s the fact that it’s routinely passed off as the genuine dairy product. Doing so, the FDA says, amounts to misleading customers and counts as an unfair trade practice under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The Penalties
Breaking the rule brings punishment that depends on how serious the offence is: up to six months in jail, or a fine as steep as Rs 1 lakh. If someone actually dies from eating unsafe food, the law goes much further, calling for life imprisonment and a fine of at least Rs 10 lakh.
How Analogue Paneer Is Made, And How It Differs From The Real Paneer?
Real paneer is simple: milk is curdled and the solids are pressed into blocks, using nothing but milk and a curdling agent. Analogue paneer takes a shortcut around most of that process. It usually leans on vegetable fats like palm oil, mixed with milk powder or milk solids, along with starch and emulsifiers, to copy the look and feel of real paneer at a much lower price. It ends up looking and slicing almost like the genuine article, but it falls short nutritionally, with protein and vitamin B12 levels well below what dairy paneer actually delivers.
Is It Safe To Eat?
Legally, analouge paneer isn’t banned everywhere in India. It can be sold as long as it’s clearly labelled as nondairy or analouge. The danger, health experts say, lies in it being served or sold as the real thing without disclosure, leaving consumers unaware of what they’re actually eating.
The issue isn’t new to Maharashtra’s political circles either. Legislators raised it in the state assembly last year, pushing for an outright ban. With this order now in force, the government is positioning the move as a decisive step toward protecting consumer health.
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Khushi Patel is a Senior Sub Editor at NewsX, covering automotive, technology, Lifestyle, entertainment, and mainstream news. She previously worked as a Copy Editor at Times Network and has written automotive editorial content, including comparison pieces, for TimesDrive.
