The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a nationwide restriction on the manufacture and sale of non-dairy analogue products being marketed or sold as “paneer”.
The proposed move is aimed at preventing consumers from being misled about the nature and composition of products sold as paneer.
What Are Analogue Dairy Products
Analogue dairy products are products in which some or all milk constituents are replaced with ingredients that are not derived from milk.
Analogue paneer may contain ingredients such as vegetable oils, starches, plant proteins, emulsifiers and other additives instead of milk fat or other milk-derived components.
FSSAI Proposes Regulatory Amendment
According to a notification issued by FSSAI, the regulator has proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
The proposed amendment would restrict the manufacture and sale of analogue products using the term “paneer” in their nomenclature, labelling or marketing.
Products already registered or licensed under the “Analogue in Dairy Context” category would also be required to discontinue the use of the term “Paneer” in their product names, labels and marketing.
FSSAI said the proposed amendment is intended to prevent misleading consumers regarding the nature and composition of these products.
Public Can Submit Objections And Suggestions
FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions on the proposed amendment.
Stakeholders and members of the public can submit their representations to the Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, at FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi, or through the email address specified in the notification.
The consultation period will remain open for 60 days from the date the relevant Official Gazette copies are made available to the public.
Following the consultation process, FSSAI will consider the representations received before proceeding further with the regulatory process.
Several States Have Already Taken Action
The proposed nationwide move comes after several states took action against analogue paneer.
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh are among the states that have introduced restrictions or enforcement measures concerning analogue paneer.
The developments reflect growing regulatory attention toward products that may be perceived by consumers as conventional dairy products despite containing non-dairy ingredients.
Zomato Also Takes Action
Food delivery platform Zomato has also announced a zero-tolerance approach toward dishes containing analogue dairy products on its platform.
According to the information released by the company, restaurants that fail to comply with the requirements could face delisting.
Zomato also stated that dishes declared by restaurant partners as containing analogue dairy products were removed from the platform.
What This Means For Food Businesses
If the proposed FSSAI amendment comes into effect, manufacturers, food businesses and restaurants using analogue dairy products will need to carefully review their product names, menus, labels and promotional materials.
Businesses using non-dairy formulations will need to ensure that their products are not presented to consumers as conventional paneer.
The proposal could therefore have implications for manufacturers of analogue dairy products, foodservice operators, restaurants, retailers and food delivery platforms.
What Happens Next
The proposal is currently part of the regulatory consultation process. FSSAI will consider objections and suggestions received during the prescribed period before moving forward with the amendment.
Until the regulatory process is completed, businesses should distinguish clearly between conventional paneer and analogue dairy products and ensure that product information does not mislead consumers.
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