Paneer eaters, this could change your plate: All-India analogue paneer ban soon? Here’s what FSSAI is planning

Paneer lovers could soon see changes in what is served and sold as paneer across India, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) considering a nationwide ban on analogue paneer.

Analogue paneer is a non-dairy substitute made using ingredients such as vegetable oils, starches, emulsifiers and other additives instead of milk-based ingredients. While some states have already prohibited its sale as paneer, there is currently no nationwide ban in place.

FSSAI chief Rajit Punhani told NDTV that the regulator will hold a meeting with all states on September 24 to seek their feedback. A nationwide prohibition could follow if there is consensus among the states.


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What is analogue paneer and how is it different?

Traditional paneer is a dairy product made from milk. Analogue paneer, on the other hand, is formulated to replicate the appearance and texture of dairy paneer using non-dairy ingredients.

FSSAI has been pushing for clearer identification of such products. In April, the regulator's West Region issued a public notice stating that cheese analogue sold as “paneer” violates food safety rules and directed manufacturers to use accurate and unambiguous product names.

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This means the issue is not simply about the ingredients used. It also concerns whether consumers are being clearly informed about what they are buying or eating.

Why is FSSAI considering a nationwide paneer ban?

The proposed move follows action already taken by several states against analogue paneer being marketed as paneer.

Speaking to NDTV, Punhani said an all-states meeting will be held on September 24 to discuss the issue.

“Once all the states give us feedback and if there's a consensus, then we will also ban analogue paneer across the country,” he said.

Punhani also pointed to paneer's importance in the Indian diet while explaining why several states have already acted against the product.

“But in India, because paneer is one of our major sources of food and protein, so eight states have already banned it because they want to ensure that their consumers get only milk-based paneer,” he added.

Eight states have already banned analogue paneer

The proposed national action comes after several states introduced restrictions on analogue paneer being sold as paneer.

States including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have taken action against such products, according to NDTV.

Karnataka, for instance, prohibited the manufacture, processing, packing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer being sold under the name “paneer” for one year.

Maharashtra has also imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, distribution and sale of analogue paneer.

Could analogue paneer be sold under another name?

One issue being examined is whether non-dairy substitutes should be allowed to remain in the market if they are given a separate name and clearly identified as non-dairy products.

The broader regulatory focus is on preventing consumers from confusing a dairy product with an analogue. FSSAI's April public notice specifically called for accurate and unambiguous naming of cheese analogues supplied to food businesses.

The regulator is also considering tighter oversight of businesses manufacturing dairy analogues, including whether additional registration or licensing requirements should apply.

What could change for restaurants and consumers?

If a nationwide prohibition is introduced, restaurants, food manufacturers and other businesses would have to ensure that products marketed as paneer meet the applicable dairy standards.

For consumers, the key change could be greater clarity over whether a paneer dish contains conventional dairy paneer or a non-dairy substitute.

The issue has already affected food-delivery platforms. Zomato announced in August that it had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards analogue dairy dishes and asked restaurant partners to switch to natural dairy products or remove such items from their menus.

FSSAI steps up food safety enforcement

The possible action on analogue paneer comes amid a wider food safety enforcement drive.

Punhani told NDTV that more than one lakh notices had been issued in recent months, around 5,000 food licences suspended, more than 600 people arrested and around 1,900 convictions secured. Penalties had been imposed in approximately 33,000 cases.

He also cautioned that these figures should not be interpreted as meaning that every inspected food business was found violating safety rules.

“There are many inspections in which things are found to be okay. It is when there are violations that gets highlighted in the media. So it is not that everyone is violating but the violations get highlighted,” Punhani said.

He added: “Overall that ecosystem of compliance is gradually coming in and we notice now that the percentage of violations is coming down.”

September 24 meeting

The September 24 meeting between FSSAI and the states is expected to clarify the next step on analogue paneer.

For now, consumers should note that FSSAI has not announced a nationwide ban. The regulator is seeking feedback from states before deciding whether to introduce one.


Inputs from TOI