Bombay HC: Restaurants Must Disclose Paneer Ingredients

Ever wondered if your paneer dish is truly dairy? The Bombay High Court just made it clear that restaurants can’t serve you substitutes without telling you, denying a Thane eatery relief over its alleged use of banned analogue paneer.

The court refused to halt the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) suspension of Udupi Swaad’s food licence. Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam A Ankhad questioned whether the restaurant informed customers about serving non-dairy paneer.

What’s the Deal with Analogue Paneer?

Analogue paneer is a non-dairy alternative crafted from vegetable fats, starches, emulsifiers, and other additives. It’s generally a cheaper option compared to traditional dairy paneer, which might explain why some establishments consider using it.

The Maharashtra government has already banned this non-dairy version due to food safety and public health concerns. The court highlighted the fundamental right of consumers to know exactly what they are consuming.

• Maharashtra’s ban covers the manufacture, distribution, and sale of non-dairy analogue paneer.
• Penalties for unsafe food practices include fines of at least Rs 10 lakh.
• There’s also potential life imprisonment if consumption of unsafe food leads to death.

Key Numbers

• Fine for unsafe food practices: at least Rs 10 lakh

The bench described the situation as “poetic justice,” implying that the restaurant should face consequences for allegedly serving food customers didn’t knowingly order. This ruling reinforces the idea that transparency in food choices is non-negotiable.

Udupi Swaad argued the FDA should have issued an improvement notice under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act before suspending its licence. However, the court was not convinced, even after the restaurant promised to stop using analogue paneer.

The licence suspension followed a laboratory test in June that found the restaurant’s paneer sample to be unsafe and substandard. The High Court has now asked the FDA to submit its response by September 2, with the next hearing set for September 7.