Karnataka Imposes One-Year Ban on Analogue Paneer Manufacture and Sale

Key facts

• The Karnataka government banned the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogue/non-dairy paneer marketed as 'paneer' across the state for one year.
• The order was issued by the Food Safety Division of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department on August 17 and remains in force for one year from issuance.
• The ban was imposed under Sections 30(2)(a), 18 and 29 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, paneer is a standardized dairy product and replacing milk fat or milk components with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients is not permitted for a product sold as 'paneer'.
• Tested paneer samples showed no adulteration, but the prohibition was imposed to prevent analogue/non-dairy paneer from being used, stored, supplied, transported or sold as paneer.
• Frozen Dessert, Processed Cheese and Mixed Fat Spread, which are covered under separate FSSAI regulations, are excluded from the ban.