A paneer-less future for Gujarat’s street food joints?

Gujarat's street food vendors may soon face a cost crunch due to a ban on non-dairy substitutes, announced on August 5. The state government's move aims to ensure public health and protect the dairy industry from unfair competition. While the organized restaurant sector sees little impact, smaller establishments might struggle with the rising ingredient costs.

A Vadodara sandwich vendor fears losing customers if prices increase, while a Punjabi restaurant owner says customers prefer affordable prices. Cloud kitchens face additional pressure due to commission fees for delivery platforms. Established businesses, like Sanjay Kabrawala's egg stall in Surat, choose to bear higher costs to maintain their brand.

According to Nitin Nanavaty, head of the National Restaurant Association of India's Vadodara chapter, only 150 out of 2,000 restaurants on delivery apps are compliant, mainly affecting B- and C-grade establishments. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allows the manufacturing of analogue paneer if properly labeled, but the ban targets lower-grade restaurants and street vendors, where consumers are deceived by the sale of analogue products as genuine milk-based products.