Karnataka Bans Analogue Paneer for 1 Year

The Karnataka government has officially prohibited the production, storage, distribution, and sale of ‘analogue paneer’ for a period of one year, with the ban taking effect from August 17. This decisive action by the Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Karnataka, aims to safeguard public health.

Analogue paneer is defined as a product crafted to resemble traditional paneer, but it involves the complete or partial substitution of milk fat or milk solids with alternative ingredients. These substitutes typically include vegetable oil, vegetable fat, or other non-dairy components.

Defining Analogue Paneer and Regulatory Standards

The prohibition specifically mandates that such substitute products must not be labeled, marketed, sold, or presented to consumers as ‘paneer’. This clarifies a crucial distinction in the market.

• Substitution of Ingredients: Analogue paneer replaces milk fat or solids with non-dairy elements.
• Marketing Restrictions: Products made with substitutes cannot be branded or sold as paneer.

Under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, paneer is strictly defined as a standardized food product derived exclusively from milk. These regulations explicitly state that milk fat is an essential component and do not permit its replacement with non-dairy ingredients.

Precautionary Measures Despite Clean Samples

Interestingly, tests conducted on numerous paneer samples across Karnataka did not reveal any adulteration. Despite these findings, the government implemented the prohibition as a precautionary measure, prioritizing the well-being of its citizens.

• Targeted Ban: The ban specifically targets dairy analogue products lacking prescribed quality standards from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Exempted Products: Standardized items like Frozen Dessert, Processed Cheese, and Mixed Fat Spread, which possess their own established quality standards, are not affected by this ban.

Food business operators throughout the state have received clear directives to adhere strictly to this order. The Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration will oversee the effective implementation and enforcement of these new regulations across Karnataka.