Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has announced a ban on analogue or imitation paneer, becoming the latest state to move against non-dairy substitutes amid growing concerns over misleading labelling and the sale of cheaper alternatives as conventional dairy products.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state would discourage and prohibit the sale of analogue paneer and instead focus on strengthening its dairy sector and promoting products made from natural milk.
“We will not promote activities such as the sale of analogue paneer,” Yadav said.
Focus shifts to genuine dairy products
The announcement comes as Madhya Pradesh seeks to increase milk production and strengthen its identity as a dairy-producing state. The government said its approach would focus on expanding the availability and consumption of genuine milk-based products rather than encouraging cheaper non-dairy substitutes.
The move follows similar prohibitions announced by Maharashtra, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, signalling a growing regulatory push against analogue dairy products across Indian states.
What is analogue paneer?
Analogue paneer is designed to resemble conventional paneer but can contain vegetable fats, starches, emulsifiers and other non-milk ingredients instead of the milk fat and milk proteins characteristic of dairy paneer.
Also Read: Daily full-fat dairy may not raise weight or cholesterol, Canadian study finds
The principal concern for regulators is not simply the existence of an alternative product, but whether consumers are clearly informed about what they are buying.
FSSAI tightens labelling expectations
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a public notice on April 22 directing food-service establishments to correctly identify cheese analogues.
The regulator clarified that selling a cheese analogue under the name “paneer” is a serious violation and directed manufacturers to use accurate and unambiguous product names when supplying such products to food businesses.
Implications for India’s dairy industry
The expanding state-level crackdown could have significant implications for the dairy value chain.
For dairy farmers, stronger demand for genuine milk products could support the market for milk and potentially improve procurement opportunities. For processors, however, the policy environment may increase pressure to ensure traceability, authentic raw materials, correct labelling and compliance with food-safety requirements.
For consumers, the key issue is transparency. A non-dairy alternative may be a different product category, but it should not be presented in a manner that makes consumers believe they are purchasing conventional dairy paneer.
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