Seven states ban analogue paneer over health, deception concerns

Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Karnataka have banned or restricted the manufacture, storage, transport and sale of analogue paneer sold as paneer, citing public health and consumer deception. Analogue paneer is a non-dairy product made with vegetable oils, starches and emulsifiers, defined by the FSSAI as a food where milk constituents are partly or fully replaced with non-milk ingredients.

The ban is expected to raise prices of dishes made with paneer, cheese and butter. Small food stalls and cloud kitchens had used cheaper analogue products, now using pure dairy could add Rs 20-60 per dish. For example, paneer butter masala could rise from Rs 220 to Rs 260, and a Margherita pizza from Rs 150 to Rs 180.

The FSSAI has advised consumers to check labels for 'analogue' or 'imitation' wording and suggested home tests, including an iodine test for starch, though only lab testing is definitive. Suspected adulteration should be reported to local food safety authorities.