Crackdown on fake dairy grows as Gujarat joins Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh
The Gujarat government has imposed a statewide ban on the production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of analogue paneer, cheese and butter, citing public health
The Gujarat government has imposed a statewide ban on the production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of analogue paneer, cheese and butter, citing public health concerns and consumer protection. The decision comes after food safety inspections and laboratory tests found several products being sold as dairy items despite not meeting prescribed standards. Announcing the move, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said restaurants, hotels, dairy parlours, supermarkets, caterers and traders across the state have been directed not to manufacture, sell or transport such products. Authorities have warned that violations could attract legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Read Full Story Analogue dairy products are designed to resemble traditional paneer, cheese or butter but are often made using vegetable oils, starches and other non-dairy ingredients. Officials say such products can mislead consumers when marketed as genuine dairy products and also hurt the interests of dairy farmers and milk-based food manufacturers. The state's Food Safety Department carried out extensive sampling and laboratory testing before recommending the ban. Investigators found instances where products were being sold as dairy items despite failing to conform to established standards.
The government said the ban aims to ensure that consumers receive safe, authentic and high-quality food products. All food business operators have been instructed to use and sell only genuine dairy-based paneer and related products in accordance with regulatory norms. OTHER STATES TIGHTEN CURBS Gujarat's move follows similar action by Maharashtra, which recently prohibited the manufacture, storage, transport, distribution and sale of analogue paneer and other artificial dairy substitutes. Violators can face penalties, including imprisonment and fines under food safety laws. Reports also indicate that Chhattisgarh had earlier imposed restrictions on analogue paneer, making it one of the first states to crack down on such products amid growing concerns over food adulteration and misleading labelling.
The crackdown comes amid a broader regulatory push by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which has directed manufacturers and food service establishments not to sell cheese analogues as paneer and to clearly disclose the use of non-dairy substitutes to consumers. Ends
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