Madhya Pradesh bans analog paneer production, sale and use over health concerns

The Madhya Pradesh government issued a ban on the production, sale, and use of analog paneer, a cheaper alternative to natural-milk paneer made from vegetable fats and starch. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav made the announcement during a meeting with officials of the food and civil supplies department. This action follows similar bans in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, and aims to promote natural milk production and consumption.

The Food Safety Department reported that around 9,000 to 12,000 quintals of analog paneer are consumed each month in the state, primarily in restaurants. The National Human Rights Commission has also expressed concern over the product's sale, describing its use as hazardous. In response to the ban, district officials are instructed to test paneer produced at various factories and immediately seize any analog paneer found. A raid in Indore recently seized 450 kg of paneer from a dairy factory.