Maharashtra has imposed a one-year statewide ban on the manufacture, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of analogue (non-dairy) paneer, becoming the second Indian state after Chhattisgarh to take such action.
The decision, announced through a gazette notification issued by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on July 30, aims to curb the growing sale of fake and adulterated paneer and protect consumers from misleading food practices.
Under the new order, all activities related to analogue paneer have been prohibited across the state. This includes its manufacture, packing, wholesale and retail sale, transportation, storage, distribution, and serving in hotels, restaurants, caterers, and cloud kitchens.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has clarified that only paneer made from pure milk can now be legally sold as paneer in the state. Food businesses are required to use genuine dairy paneer, a move that may increase the cost of paneer-based dishes at restaurants.
The ban follows an extensive statewide inspection drive that revealed widespread adulteration in paneer sold across Maharashtra.
Between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, the Maharashtra FDA collected 308 paneer samples for laboratory testing. The findings raised serious concerns:
Laboratory tests revealed that many products contained vegetable fats, palm oil, vanaspati (dalda), and other non-dairy substitutes instead of natural milk fat.
Authorities also found that several hotels, restaurants, and caterers were allegedly using analogue paneer without informing customers through menus, invoices, or product labels.
Analogue paneer is an imitation version of traditional paneer made using vegetable oils, palm oil, hydrogenated fats, starch, and other non-dairy ingredients instead of milk fat.
Although it closely resembles real paneer in appearance and texture, it is not considered genuine dairy paneer.
Under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations, paneer must be prepared from milk and should not contain added starch, synthetic ingredients, or non-dairy fats. While FSSAI permits the sale of analogue paneer, it must be clearly labelled as "analogue" or "imitation" and cannot be marketed as traditional dairy paneer.
Health authorities have expressed concern that consumers are often unknowingly served analogue paneer instead of genuine dairy paneer.
Experts warn that regularly consuming adulterated or improperly manufactured paneer may increase the risk of:
Children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people with existing health conditions are considered particularly vulnerable.
Businesses found violating the ban can face stringent legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Penalties include:
If consumption of unsafe food leads to death, offenders may face:
The FDA has also warned that selling analogue paneer as genuine dairy paneer amounts to misleading consumers and constitutes an unfair trade practice.
The ban comes amid an intensified statewide campaign against adulterated dairy products.
In one of the biggest enforcement actions, Maharashtra FDA officials raided a warehouse in Pune's Manjari Khurd and seized approximately:
Officials alleged that these materials were being used to manufacture imitation paneer using cheaper substitutes instead of milk.
The statewide drive has also included inspections of restaurants, hotels, and food establishments across Mumbai and other districts to improve food safety and hygiene standards.
The issue of fake paneer had been repeatedly raised in the Maharashtra Assembly, with lawmakers demanding stricter action against adulterated dairy products.
According to the FDA, routine inspections, food sampling, and awareness campaigns were not sufficient to reduce violations, as a significant proportion of paneer samples continued to fail quality tests.
The one-year ban is intended to eliminate misleading food practices, improve product traceability, and ensure that consumers receive authentic dairy products.
Consumers can take a few simple precautions while purchasing paneer:
The ban is expected to strengthen food safety standards across Maharashtra while improving transparency in the dairy sector. Consumers are likely to receive authentic paneer products, although restaurants and food businesses may face higher procurement costs due to the mandatory use of genuine milk-based paneer.
With strict enforcement and heavy penalties in place, authorities hope the move will significantly reduce the circulation of fake dairy products and restore consumer confidence in the state's food supply.