NHRC Questions Regulatory Basis Of ‘Analogue Paneer’, Seeks Nationwide Details On Sales And Safety

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns over the production, licensing, distribution, and consumption of "analogue paneer." The Commission, headed by Priyank Kanoongo, is demanding comprehensive information about the product's composition, nutritional value, safety standards, and the protection of consumers' right to accurate information. The issue was brought to the Commission's attention following a complaint from the Advanced Study Institute of Asia.

The NHRC seeks to explore the regulatory and nutritional justification for allowing a product with significant differences from traditional milk-based paneer to be manufactured and marketed as a paneer alternative. To gather necessary details, the Commission has requested the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to provide a comprehensive report on the analogue paneer's regulatory status, permissible composition, nutritional implications, potential health concerns, applicable standards, and testing methodologies.

Moreover, the NHRC has reached out to the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to obtain information on various aspects of analogue paneer, including its manufacture, distribution, sale, serving, inspections, sampling, violations, and enforcement actions. The concerned authorities have been given two weeks from the receipt of the notices to submit their action taken reports.

The inquiry comes amidst a recent incident where an accused, handcuffed and undergoing treatment in Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal, attacked a jail guard before escaping during a medical check-up.