State-wide ban covers manufacturing, storage, sale, and distribution of analogue paneer; violators risk jail time

In a major crackdown on food adulteration, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a state-wide ban on analogue paneer, prohibiting its manufacturing, processing, preparation, packing, storage, distribution, wholesale and retail sale, and offering for sale across Maharashtra.

The gazette notification was issued under the leadership of Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, invoking provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, that allow authorities to ban specific food items for a period of up to one year.

"The law itself has a provision of banning such items for one year only. As per our information, analogue paneer has very low nutritional value. But there is no legal support for us to put a complete ban on such types of paneer," an FDA official said.

The FDA has made clear that the concern extends beyond the product itself to how it is sold. Serving analogue paneer as conventional dairy paneer without informing consumers, the department warned, would amount to an unfair trade practice under the Food Safety and Standards Act and attract penal action.

Depending on the extent of harm caused, offenders could face penalties ranging from six months' imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh, up to life imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh in cases where consumption of unsafe food results in death, the FDA said.

FDA inspections found that analogue paneer was frequently transported and sold without original packaging, mandatory labels, invoices, batch identification, or traceability documents — making it difficult for authorities to establish its source.

What Is Analogue Paneer?

Analogue paneer is a paneer look-alike made without relying on milk as its primary ingredient. It typically contains vegetable fats such as palm oil, along with milk solids or milk powder, starch, and emulsifiers, instead of being made purely from fresh milk.

While traditional paneer is prepared by curdling milk with an acid such as lemon juice or citric acid, analogue paneer is manufactured to imitate paneer's appearance, texture, and taste using cheaper substitutes.

Experts have flagged health risks associated with regular consumption of analogue paneer, including raised cholesterol and digestive issues, and have criticised it for containing heavy starches and additives that are harder for the body to process.