Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration places one-year ban on analogue, non-dairy paneer

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a one-year ban on the production and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer due to public health concerns and numerous violations of food safety norms. The ban, announced on August 5, 2026, could result in severe penalties for offenders, ranging from imprisonment to fines.

Analogue paneer is a non-dairy substitute made from vegetable oils, starches, emulsifiers, and other additives, rather than milk fat, and is generally cheaper to produce with lower protein content. The FDA found that several hotels, restaurants, caterers, and other food establishments were serving analogue paneer without disclosing the substitution on menus, invoices, or display boards.

This ban follows a similar measure taken by Chhattisgarh, making Maharashtra the second state to implement such a restriction. The Food Safety and Standards Act permits the government to issue prohibitory orders for a maximum period of one year. The FDA emphasized the nutritional inadequacy of analogue paneer and warned that serving it as conventional dairy paneer without informing consumers would constitute an unfair trade practice, attracting penal action.