Indian state imposes one-year ban on non-standardised dairy analogues

Food Safety Commissioner G Veerapandian issued the order in an extraordinary gazette notification, exercising powers under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The prohibition will apply for a year unless the competent authorities amend or replace it before that period ends. Alongside manufacture and processing, the activities covered include packing, storage, transport and distribution of the prohibited products.

The notification targets imitation dairy products containing non-dairy substitutes for some or all of their milk, milk fat or milk solids. These ingredients include vegetable fats, palm oil and non-dairy powders. Artificial paneer presented as genuine paneer falls within its scope, as do other non-standardised dairy analogues presented as authentic dairy foods. The restrictions extend to misleading impressions created through labels, packaging, advertisements or the way a product is presented.

Authorities referred to Regulation 2.1.16 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, when setting out the requirements for paneer. Under that provision, paneer must be produced exclusively from milk and milk solids, with permitted acidulants. Substitutes containing cheaper vegetable oils or non-dairy powders cannot be marketed as genuine paneer on the basis of a similar appearance, colour, texture or use in cooking.

The food-service restrictions apply to hotels, restaurants, cloud kitchens, caterers and institutions. They may not supply or serve the covered substitutes in a manner that leads customers to believe they are eating authentic dairy products. The government said non-standardised paneer analogues can cost less to produce, last longer and closely resemble dairy products, and that their use in eateries can consequently mislead consumers.

The notification excludes certain standardised products from the prohibition, including frozen desserts, processed cheese and mixed fat spreads. Food Business Operators throughout Andhra Pradesh have been instructed to check that anything they sell or serve as paneer satisfies the applicable requirements of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. They must also ensure that those products are not misrepresented to customers during the restriction period.

Food Safety Director Arun Babu called on consumers to stay alert when buying paneer. He advised checking for unusual characteristics in its texture, colour and aroma, as well as how it behaves when heated. He also urged caution over paneer offered at unusually low prices.