FSSAI proposes ban on sale of analogue paneer made without milk

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed banning the sale of analogue paneer made from constituents not derived from milk.

In a draft notification, the food regulator proposed an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, to restrict the manufacture and sale of such analogue products as paneer.

The proposal specifically seeks to insert "paneer made of constituents not derived from milk" among the products covered under restrictions on sale.

Under the proposed amendment, products already licensed or registered under the "Analogue in Dairy Context" category would have to discontinue the use of the term "Paneer" in their nomenclature, labelling or marketing.

Analogue dishes replace traditional ingredients with cheaper or alternative substitutes (like plant oils instead of real milk or cheese) while keeping the same look and feel.

The proposal is intended to prevent consumers from being misled about the nature and composition of the product.

"Products already licensed or registered under Analogue in Dairy Context category shall discontinue the use of the term 'Paneer' in their nomenclature, labelling or marketing," the draft notification said.

The FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders on the proposed amendment.

The draft regulations will be considered after the expiry of 60 days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette containing the notification are made available to the public.

The proposed amendment is to be called the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulations, 2026.

With immediate effect, dishes that restaurant partners have declared as containing 'analogue dairy' have been delisted from the platform, Zomato said.