Paneer is one of those foods most people don’t think twice about ordering.Palak paneer, chilli paneer, paneer tikka, butter masala. It’s everywhere, especially on restaurant menus.But what if the paneer on your plate isn’t actually made the way traditional paneer is?That question is now back in focus, with India’s food regulator considering a nationwide ban on analogue paneer, a non-dairy substitute in which milk fat or milk solids are partly or completely replaced with ingredients such as vegetable oils, fats and proteins.FSSAI chief Rajit Punhani told NDTV that the regulator will seek feedback from all states at a meeting on September 24. If there is a consensus, FSSAI could move towards a nationwide ban. For now, though, there is no national ban in place.
So, what exactly is analogue paneer?
It may look like paneer. It may even be used in the same dishes.But analogue paneer isn’t traditional dairy paneer.Under the existing food standards, paneer is supposed to be made using milk or milk solids, with permitted ingredients including certain acidulants, salt and spices or condiments. Vegetable oil, vegetable fats and vegetable proteins aren’t part of the permitted formulation for standard paneer.Analogue products, meanwhile, can use ingredients such as vegetable oils, starches and emulsifiers to replicate the texture and appearance of dairy products.The concern isn’t simply that these products exist. It’s also about how they’re sold and described to consumers.
Why is FSSAI looking at a ban now?
The issue gained wider attention after social media posts last year alleged that a Mumbai restaurant was serving “fake paneer”. That triggered questions around how non-dairy substitutes should be identified when they’re used in restaurant food.FSSAI subsequently consulted stakeholders on whether such products should be clearly described as “non-dairy” or “analogue”, along with details of their ingredients.One proposal discussed was wording that would make the distinction obvious to customers, rather than simply calling the product paneer or cheese.The regulator has also considered whether restaurants should specifically mention the use of non-dairy or analogue paneer and cheese on their menus.
Eight states have already taken action
The proposed national move comes after several states introduced their own restrictions.At least eight states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka, have taken action against analogue paneer.Karnataka, for instance, announced a one-year ban in August on the manufacture, processing, storage, transportation and sale of analogue paneer. Maharashtra had already imposed a similar ban.So the debate is no longer limited to what goes into a paneer packet. It now extends to what restaurants buy, what manufacturers produce and, most importantly, what consumers are told they’re eating.
Could analogue paneer simply be sold under another name?
That’s one of the questions FSSAI is still examining.The regulator is considering whether vegetable-oil-based substitutes should be allowed if they’re given a different name and clearly identified as non-dairy products.Another proposal is to bring manufacturers of dairy analogues under a more formal registration system.At present, some smaller food businesses below the specified turnover or production thresholds don’t require the same level of FSSAI licensing. The regulator is considering whether dairy analogue manufacturers should be treated differently.
What happens next?
The September 24 meeting could provide a clearer picture.FSSAI chief Rajit Punhani has said the regulator will consider the states’ feedback before deciding whether to move towards a nationwide prohibition.And this isn’t happening in isolation.The regulator is also stepping up food safety enforcement across the country. Punhani told NDTV that more than one lakh notices had been issued in recent months, around 5,000 food licences suspended, more than 600 people arrested and about 1,900 convictions secured. Penalties were imposed in roughly 33,000 cases.He also stressed that these figures don’t mean every business inspected was found violating food safety rules. Inspections where no violations are found naturally receive less public attention.For consumers, the analogue paneer debate comes down to something fairly simple: knowing what’s actually on the plate.If a product isn’t dairy paneer, the question is whether that should be made unmistakably clear before someone orders it.Whether India eventually gets one nationwide rule will depend on what the states say next.
