Regulatory shake-up as FSSAI cracks down on dairy substitute labelling

INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed regulatory amendments to tighten labelling, usage, and licensing rules for dairy analogues amid growing concerns over consumer confusion and misuse.

The objective is to prevent misleading product labelling and ensure clear product identification. For pre-packaged items using dairy analogues as ingredients, the proposal mandates a detailed declaration.

FSSAI aims to standardise naming conventions by clarifying whether prefixes such as non-dairy or analogue can be used alongside traditional dairy terms such as analogue cheese or non-dairy milk, where dairy ingredients are wholly or partially replaced.

Rakesh Kumar, FSSAI Director of the Regulatory Compliance Division, said,” Several media reports have surfaced wherein it is claimed that products like ‘analogue in dairy context’ are being sold as ‘dairy products’, thus misleading consumers.”

In response, the FSSAI convened consultations with stakeholders, including industry associations, consumer groups, and the HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering) sector, to assess current compliance levels and regulatory gaps.

Based on these discussions, the food authority is proposing stricter regulations for dairy analogue products. It is seeking public comments within 60 days from April 16 on the following proposed amendments.

The label must clearly state the type of analogue used, such as analogue of cheese, immediately followed by a list of its components in descending order of proportion.

An example is that a label might read: Ingredients – analogue of cheese (milk solids, refined palm oil, hydrogenated vegetable fat, modified starch, emulsifier).

Restaurants, caterers and other food service operators will also need to explicitly indicate when a dairy analogue is used in prepared foods.

This includes using terms such as non-dairy or analogue before any dairy terminology on menus or promotional materials, such as analogue of paneer in dishes like kadhai paneer.

The declaration must be legible and accessible to help consumers make informed choices. To curb unlabelled sales, the FSSAI has proposed that dairy analogues be sold only in pre-packaged units of at least 500 grams.

Loose sales will be prohibited, and packages must carry the appropriate labelling declarations in compliance with existing food standards regulations.

According to FSSAI, these proposed measures aim to create a consistent regulatory framework that protects consumer rights while supporting responsible market practices, especially as demand for plant-based and synthetic dairy alternatives continues to grow.

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