Maharashtra FDA bans non-dairy paneer for a year, citing consumer safety
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a one-year ban on the production, storage, transport, distribution, and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer across the state. The order, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, takes effect immediately and is part of a broader enforcement drive conducted between May 25 and July 31, 2026.
Analogue paneer is a substitute made with non-dairy fats and ingredients, often used as a cheaper alternative to real paneer. The FDA's action follows laboratory tests on paneer samples collected from various districts. The results showed that a significant number of samples contained extraneous vegetable fat instead of natural milk fat, and were manufactured using unauthorised and sub-standard ingredients. The FDA said these products were being sold under the name of paneer in growing volumes, deceiving consumers.
Out of 308 samples analysed, 109 (35.4%) were found to be compliant. 79 were sub-standard, and 30 were unsafe. The ban applies to all food service establishments, including hotels, restaurants, caterers, and cloud kitchens, where the use of analogue paneer is now completely prohibited.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said, "It is the constitutional and legal right of every citizen of Maharashtra to receive safe, pure and quality food." He added that those who earn profit by defrauding consumers and gambling with public health will not be allowed to operate in the state. "While extending full protection to honest industry, a zero tolerance policy will be strictly implemented against those who sell sub-standard, misleading and unsafe food. Safe food is not merely the enforcement of law. It is the moral and constitutional commitment of the government towards society," he said.
The enforcement campaign also targeted illegal products such as gutka and flavoured tobacco. The FDA inspected 3,137 establishments, issued 764 improvement notices, suspended 165 licences, filed 532 FIRs, and arrested 714 people in connection with food safety violations. In a separate crackdown on prohibited articles, 676 establishments were inspected, 658 prohibited articles were found, 519 FIRs were filed, 701 arrests were made, and 407 establishments were sealed. 78 vehicles worth ₹6.60 crore were seized, with Konkan and Nashik accounting for the largest seizure values at ₹1.80 crore and ₹3.49 crore respectively.
In the milk products segment, the FDA conducted 476 inspections, issued 196 improvement notices, suspended 16 establishments, seized 1,49,775 kg of milk products worth ₹3.82 crore, and filed two FIRs. Konkan region accounted for ₹2.48 crore of these seizures, 65% of the state total. Other products including edible oil, amla, laddu, khoa, bakery items, candy, jaggery, ghee, dates, ice cream, kulfi, frozen desserts, and spices were also inspected. 608 establishments were checked, and 25,26,822 kg of products were seized, valued at ₹36.00 crore.
The FDA's press note also cited the Supreme Court's warning on milk adulteration as a serious public health danger and the FSSAI's Central Advisory Committee recommendation for a strict policy on analogue products in dairy contexts. The ban is intended to enforce these directives and protect consumers from misleading and unsafe food products.
The FDA has directed all Joint Commissioners (Food), Assistant Commissioners (Food), Designated Officers, and Food Safety Officers to conduct special inspection drives across the state. Focus will be on production centres, warehouses, transport systems, wholesale markets, retail outlets, and food service establishments. Suspect products will be sampled, and if necessary, seized and destroyed.
