Maharashtra bans fake paneer, joins Chhattisgarh in crackdown on adulterated dairy
The state"s Food and Drug Administration has cautioned that passing off analogue paneer as real dairy paneer misleads customers and qualifies as an unfair trade practice under food safety law.
Total Views |
Maharashtra has become the second state in the country, after Chhattisgarh, to impose a complete ban on the production and sale of analogue (non-dairy) paneer. Anyone caught violating the ban could face up to six months in prison along with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.
_202608061455510555_H@@IGHT_400_W@@IDTH_700.jpg "analog paneer")
This move follows a broader statewide crackdown on synthetic milk and paneer production that has been ongoing since May, involving numerous raids and seizures. In one significant operation in Manjari Khurd, Pune, officials dismantled a counterfeit paneer operation and seized nearly 1,400 kg of the product, allegedly made using low-cost substitutes.
Along with the paneer, authorities recovered 1,800 kg of skimmed milk powder, 400 kg of glycerol monostearate powder, and 718 litres of palm oil, among other materials used in producing fake dairy goods. This action against non-dairy paneer is part of a wider enforcement push targeting unhygienic eateries and hotels across Mumbai and the rest of the state, which has already led to several shutdowns and license cancellations.
The order, issued by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, outlaws every stage of the analogue paneer supply chain in the state: manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, transport, wholesale and retail sale, and distribution. Penalties will vary based on how serious the violation is, with punishment prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. If someone dies after consuming unsafe food products, the law allows for life imprisonment and a fine of at least Rs 10 lakh.
The state's Food and Drug Administration has cautioned that passing off analogue paneer as real dairy paneer misleads customers and qualifies as an unfair trade practice under food safety law. It has promised firm legal action against violators. Unlike traditional paneer, the analogue version is generally produced using vegetable oils or fats and other non-dairy substitutes in place of milk fat. Though it can look similar to genuine paneer, regulators are concerned it's often sold as the real thing without informing buyers.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe says, "Henceforth, nobody can produce it, nobody can store it, nobody can sell it, and nobody can process it. Therefore, all Food Business Operators (FBOs) involved in this are hereby advised and directed not to use analog or… pic.twitter.com/1kcIONyjQ1
— IANS (@ians_india) August 5, 2026
FSSAI rules require that paneer be made purely from milk, without starch, non-dairy fats, or synthetic additives. While analogue paneer isn't banned nationally by FSSAI, it can only be sold if it's clearly and accurately labeled as such. Calls for a total ban had already been raised in the Maharashtra Assembly last year. The order dated July 30 now puts that ban into formal effect across the state.
This move follows a broader statewide crackdown on synthetic milk and paneer production that has been ongoing since May, involving numerous raids and seizures. In one significant operation in Manjari Khurd, Pune, officials dismantled a counterfeit paneer operation and seized nearly 1,400 kg of the product, allegedly made using low-cost substitutes.
Along with the paneer, authorities recovered 1,800 kg of skimmed milk powder, 400 kg of glycerol monostearate powder, and 718 litres of palm oil, among other materials used in producing fake dairy goods. This action against non-dairy paneer is part of a wider enforcement push targeting unhygienic eateries and hotels across Mumbai and the rest of the state, which has already led to several shutdowns and license cancellations.