MUMBAI: Maharashtra has imposed an immediate one-year statewide ban on the manufacture, distribution and sale of all unstandardised analogue and non-dairy paneer, citing serious public health concerns and widespread consumer deception.The ban also applies to hotels, caterers, restaurants and other eateries, making it illegal to manufacture, store, sell or serve such products across the state.Under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, paneer is defined as a standardised dairy product made exclusively from milk using permitted coagulants, with milk fat as an essential and non-substitutable ingredient.
The regulations classify paneer into three categories based on fat content: standard paneer, which may be sold loose or packaged, and medium-fat and low-fat paneer, which can be sold only in sealed packages.Any product that substitutes natural milk fat with vegetable oils or other non-dairy ingredients violates the prescribed standards and cannot legally be labelled, sold or served as “paneer”, the order said.Authorities warned that violations could attract penalties ranging from monetary fines and imprisonment of up to six months to life imprisonment in cases involving serious health consequences.
