Analogue paneer products, which look and feel like the real thing but is made from non-dairy alternatives, should no longer carry the word paneer in their labels , the country’s apex food safety regulator has proposed.
Last month, food delivery app Zomato removed dishes that restaurant partners have declared as containing analogue dairy from its menus.
In April, FSSAI clarified that while analogue products can be sold when accurately labelled, selling, serving or listing dishes made with analogue products as “paneer” violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. “The consumer should be well aware what they are consuming— the food businesses should clearly mention if they are using analogue paneer,” said a senior official, requesting anonymity. In a draft notification on Tuesday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said it is proposing to amend regulations to restrict the manufacture and sale of analogue products as paneer to prevent consumers from being misled.
