The Karnataka government has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer being marketed as “paneer” across the state. The order was issued by the Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration on August 17, 2026, and will remain in force for one year.
The move has been taken with the stated aim of protecting public health and consumer interests. The order covers a wide range of activities, including manufacturing, packing, transportation, wholesale and retail sales, displaying the product for sale and supplying analogue paneer. Food businesses are also prohibited from using such products as ingredients in food preparation.
What Is Analogue Paneer?
Analogue or non-dairy paneer is a product made to resemble traditional paneer but in which milk fat or milk solids are wholly or partially replaced by vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients. Such products can look and feel similar to genuine paneer but do not meet the standard definition of milk-based paneer.
Under India's food standards, paneer is a standardised food product prepared from milk. Therefore, a non-dairy substitute cannot be marketed or represented to consumers simply as “paneer” when it does not meet the prescribed standards.
Why Has Karnataka Banned It?
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration said the decision was taken in the interest of public health and consumer protection. Interestingly, officials also said that tests conducted on several paneer samples in Karnataka had not found active cases of adulteration with vegetable oil or vegetable fat.
The government has nevertheless decided to prohibit analogue paneer that is being sold under the name “paneer”, particularly products for which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not prescribed specific standards.
What Products Are Exempt?
The prohibition does not cover standardised food products that already have their own prescribed regulatory categories. The notification specifically excludes products such as frozen desserts, processed cheese and mixed-fat spreads, which are governed by separate FSSAI standards.
This means the order is not a blanket ban on every non-dairy food product. It specifically targets analogue or non-dairy products being presented and sold as paneer.
Impact on Hotels, Restaurants and Consumers
The new rule could have a significant impact on hotels, restaurants, caterers and food manufacturers that use paneer as a regular ingredient. Businesses across Karnataka will need to ensure that the paneer they purchase and use complies with applicable food-safety standards. Authorities have warned that enforcement action can be taken against businesses that violate the notification.
For consumers, the move is intended to provide greater clarity about what is actually being sold as paneer. Buyers can check product labels, packaging information and manufacturer details when purchasing packaged paneer.
Karnataka now joins several other states that have recently taken action against analogue or non-dairy paneer being sold as genuine dairy paneer.
The ban is scheduled to remain effective until August 17, 2027. the development highlights the government's increasing focus on food labelling, authenticity and consumer protection in the dairy and food-service sectors.
