NEW DELHI : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed nationwide restrictions on the manufacture and sale of non-dairy analogue products as “paneer”, in a move aimed at preventing consumers from being misled about the nature and composition of food products.
Importantly, the proposal is currently a draft regulation and is not yet a final nationwide ban. FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and the public before proceeding with the regulatory process.
FSSAI Proposes Amendment to Food Safety Regulations
The regulator has proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
The draft seeks to restrict the manufacture and sale of an analogue product as paneer, with FSSAI stating that the objective is to prevent consumers from being misled regarding the nature and composition of the product.
Under the proposal, products already registered or licensed under the “Analogue in Dairy Context” category would have to discontinue the use of the term “Paneer” in their product nomenclature, labelling and marketing.
What Is Analogue Paneer?
Dairy analogues are products in which some or all milk constituents are replaced with ingredients that are not derived from milk.
Depending on the formulation, analogue paneer can contain ingredients such as vegetable oils or fats, plant proteins, starches, emulsifiers and other permitted ingredients.
The regulatory issue is therefore primarily about ensuring that the product’s name and labelling accurately communicate its composition, rather than treating every non-dairy analogue as inherently unsafe.
60-Day Window for Objections and Suggestions
FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions on the proposed amendment for 60 days from the date copies of the relevant Official Gazette are made available to the public.
After considering the representations received during this consultation period, the regulator will proceed with the next stages of the regulatory process.
The proposal has been issued under the regulatory powers provided by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
State-Level Restrictions Already in Place
The proposed national framework follows regulatory action taken by several states against analogue paneer.
States including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have introduced restrictions, while reports have also identified additional states that have taken action against such products.
FSSAI’s move follows earlier efforts to address the correct naming and labelling of dairy analogues. In April 2026, the regulator’s West Region issued a public notice stating that cheese analogue sold as paneer violates applicable food-safety requirements and directing food businesses to use accurate product names.
Zomato Introduces Action Against Analogue Dairy Products
The regulatory debate has also extended to food-service platforms. Zomato has announced a zero-tolerance approach towards restaurants selling dishes containing analogue dairy products without appropriate disclosure, with non-compliant restaurant partners potentially facing delisting.
The platform has also removed dishes that restaurant partners declared as containing analogue dairy products, according to the company’s announcement reported this week.
Implications for Dairy Manufacturers and Food-Service Businesses
If the proposed amendment is eventually finalised, manufacturers and food-service operators using dairy analogues will need to pay particular attention to product nomenclature, labelling and menu declarations.
For the organised dairy industry, the proposal could further clarify the distinction between conventional milk-based paneer and products formulated using non-milk ingredients. It may also require businesses currently using “paneer” in the naming or marketing of analogue products to review their product labels and branding.
The immediate regulatory position, however, remains that FSSAI has proposed the amendment and is conducting the consultation process; the nationwide restriction has not yet become a final regulation.
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