Gujarat government bans analogue paneer, cheese & butter citing public health concerns

INDIA – The Gujarat government has banned the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of unauthorised analogue paneer, cheese and butter across the state due to public health concerns.

The ban was announced by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya, who stated the decision was made to protect public health and prevent consumers from being misled by products containing non-dairy ingredients.

“The state government would not tolerate any compromise with people’s health,” said Pansheriya, adding that the production and distribution of analogue dairy products has been prohibited throughout Gujarat.

The move follows sampling and laboratory testing by the state’s Food and Drug Regulatory Authority, which indicated that products resembling paneer were being produced using vegetable oils and other non-dairy components instead of milk.

The government highlighted that such products mislead consumers, harm genuine dairy producers, and raise food safety concerns.

This appeal was issued one day after the state government announced the ban on unauthorised analogue paneer, cheese and butter.

The government warned that strict legal action would be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 against any individual or food business operator found violating the ban.

Maharashtra FDA India mandates disclosure of cheese analogues

Recently, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) mandated that all food service establishments clearly disclose the use of cheese analogues in their offerings.

This latest dairy policy development in India reflects growing regulatory attention to food authenticity and consumer awareness across the dairy sector.

The directive applies to restaurants, hotels, caterers and fast-food operators, requiring them to display the information on both printed menus and digital display boards.

The decision follows multiple consumer complaints, highlighting that several outlets were serving cheese analogue products without proper disclosure. In many cases, these items were marketed under names that resembled traditional dairy products, such as paneer or cheese, creating confusion among buyers.

This issue has gained prominence in recent dairy news in India, particularly as consumers become more conscious of dairy nutrition news and ingredient transparency. With the rise of value-added dairy products and alternatives, clear differentiation has become essential to maintain trust.

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