Only Real Paneer Allowed: Karnataka Bans Non-Dairy Version
What Happened
The Karnataka government has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of analogue (non-dairy) paneer being sold as “paneer”. The order covers products made by wholly or partly replacing milk fat or milk solids with vegetable oils, vegetable fats or other non-dairy ingredients. Products with separate FSSAI standards, such as: Frozen Desserts, Processed Cheese, Mixed Fat Spread are not covered by the ban.
Key Takeaways
The ban is aimed at protecting consumers and preventing misleading labelling, ensuring that products sold as paneer are genuine milk-based paneer. The government clarified that the move is precautionary and not due to widespread adulteration, as tested samples did not show adulteration.