E-Paper
Karnataka bans manufacture and sale of analogue ‘paneer’ for one year
Analogue or non-dairy paneer refers to products made to resemble paneer by replacing all or part of the milk fat or milk solids with vegetable oil.
The Karnataka government imposed one-year ban on the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer being marketed as “paneer” across the state.
The order was issued by the Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drugs Administration on August 17 and made public on Saturday. The notification prohibits production, processing, packing, storage, distribution, transportation, wholesale and retail sale, display for sale and government supply of such products for one year.
The action has been taken under sections 30(2)(a), 18 and 29 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Deep Dive
According to the department, paneer is a standardised food product made from milk under Regulation 2.1.16 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. Milk fat is an essential component of paneer, and the use of vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients in place of or along with milk fat is not permitted under the prescribed standard.
The department said several paneer samples collected in Karnataka had been subjected to testing.
The ban is not based solely on findings of adulteration. Officials said that even where samples did not contain vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other prohibited substances as adulterants, the products covered by the notification cannot be manufactured, stored, supplied, transported or sold as paneer.
Analogue or non-dairy paneer refers to products made to resemble paneer by replacing all or part of the milk fat or milk solids with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients. Such products cannot be labelled, marketed or presented to consumers as paneer, the department said.
The government has also clarified that the notification does not cover standardised food products for which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prescribed separate quality standards. Products such as frozen desserts, processed cheese and mixed fat spreads, which have their own recognised standards, are outside the scope of the ban.
The restriction also applies to food business operators using analogue paneer as an ingredient. Restaurants, food manufacturers, caterers and other food establishments have been prohibited from using, storing, supplying or selling such products in the preparation of food.
The Food Safety Division said enforcement measures would be taken across Karnataka to ensure effective implementation of the order. Food business operators have been directed to strictly comply with the notification, while consumers have been advised to remain alert about products being sold under the name of paneer.
Officials said the move is aimed at ensuring that consumers receive products that comply with the prescribed standards and are not misled by paneer-like products containing non-dairy ingredients. The one-year prohibition will cover the entire supply chain, from manufacturing and processing to distribution and retail sale.
