NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a ban on the use of the word “paneer” for analogue paneer and cheese products in an effort to prevent consumer confusion regarding the nature and composition of these foods.
The proposed amendment targets food business operators, including hotels, restaurants, and catering services that utilize substitutes for traditional dairy-based paneer or cheese.
According to the proposal, products made with paneer or cheese analogues must be distinctly labeled for consumers. The FSSAI emphasized that businesses using these products are required to disclose this information clearly at points of sale, including menu listings and packaging, in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations.
The FSSAI stated: “The amendment is proposed to prevent the manufacturing and sale of analogue products under the designation of paneer, thus protecting consumers from being misled about the product’s nature and composition. Products already licensed or registered under the ‘Analogue in Dairy Context’ category must cease using the term ‘Paneer’ in their naming, labeling, or advertising.”
Furthermore, products already in the ‘Analogue in Dairy Context’ category will need to stop using “Paneer” in all forms of nomenclature, labeling, or marketing.
The FSSAI underscored that these changes are aimed at safeguarding consumers from being misled about non-traditional dairy products. This proposal arises alongside intensified food safety inspections and greater regulatory scrutiny regarding the labeling and content of food items.
