Karnataka bans sale of analogue paneer under the name ‘paneer’ for one year

The ban was imposed as a precautionary measure in the interest of public health and consumer protection. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The state government has banned the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer marketed as ‘paneer’ across the state for one year, citing the need to protect public health and consumer interest.

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A gazette notice to this effect was issued on August 17 by the Department for Food and Drug Safety pursuant to § 30 paragraph 2 letter a), 18 and 29 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. The ban applies to the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transport, wholesale and retail sale, display and supply of such products.

The notice distinguishes between “genuine paneer” and “analog dairy products”. As per food safety regulations, paneer is a standardized dairy product and milk fat is an essential ingredient. The use of vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients in place of milk fat or milk solids is not permitted in a product sold as paneer.

The notification said the ban targets products for which specific quality standards have not been prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). It does not apply to separately standardized products such as frozen desserts, processed cheeses and mixed fat spreads, which are governed by their own standards.

Consumer protection

The ministry said the absence of specific standards for some milk analogue products made enforcement difficult and created the possibility of such products being sold as genuine paneer, which could mislead consumers. The notification stated that consumers should not be expected to distinguish such products from each other.

The decree also points to labeling requirements, according to which products containing non-dairy ingredients must clearly declare their composition. Labeling such a product as paneer could constitute misbranding under applicable food safety provisions.

Preventive measures

Importantly, the ministry’s notification said that testing of several paneer samples in Karnataka did not detect adulteration with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other dairy ingredients. The ban was imposed as a precautionary measure in the interest of public health and consumer protection.

The announcement invokes the authority of the State Commissioner for Food Safety pursuant to § 30 paragraph 2 letter a) of the Act prohibit the production, storage, distribution or sale of a food item on the territory of the state for a period of up to one year, if such a measure is considered necessary in the interest of public health.

What is analog paneer?

The regulation defines analogue or non-dairy breadcrumbs as a product similar to breadcrumbs in which the milk fat or milk solids have been completely or partially replaced by vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients. Such products cannot be named, sold or presented to consumers as ‘paneer’.

Published – 22 Aug 2026 20:07 IST