Karnataka bans analogue paneer sold as paneer for one year

The Karnataka government has banned the production, storage, distribution and sale of analogue paneer being sold as 'paneer' across the state for one year, officials said. The order, issued by the Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration, was notified on August 17. Commissioner Srinivas K said the ban aims to safeguard public health. Analogue paneer is defined as a product prepared by replacing milk fat or milk solids wholly or partly with vegetable oil, fat or other non-dairy ingredients.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, paneer is a standardised milk product and milk fat cannot be replaced. The department said tests on several paneer samples found no adulteration, but the prohibition was still ordered in the public interest. The ban applies only to dairy analogue products without specific FSSAI quality standards, and does not cover standardised products like frozen dessert, processed cheese and mixed fat spread.

Food business operators have been warned not to use, store or sell analogue paneer in any food product. The department will enforce the order across the state.