Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration places one-year ban on analogue, non-dairy paneer

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) imposed a one-year ban on the production, processing, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of ‘analogue/non-dairy paneer’. The FDA’s order was issued under Sections 18, 29, and 30(2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

This is part of the FDA’s enforcement campaign across the State in the last two months, from May 25, 2026, to July 31, 2026, with its top priority being food safety, drug quality and consumer protection.

According to the FDA’s press note, the action was taken after paneer samples were collected from various districts in the State and analysed at notified food laboratories, which made it clear that the analogue/non-dairy paneer was being manufactured from unauthorised, sub-standard, and non-dairy ingredients like extraneous vegetable fat in place of natural milk fat in many samples and was being sold in the State in growing volumes under the name of paneer, thereby defrauding consumers.

Out of 308 samples that were analysed, 109 samples (35.4%) were compliant, 79 of them were sub-standard, and 30 were unsafe. The use of analogue paneer is completely prohibited in hotels, restaurants, caterers, cloud kitchens and other food service establishments.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that “it is the constitutional and legal right of every citizen of Maharashtra to receive safe, pure and quality food”. “No one who earns profit by defrauding consumers and gambles with the health of citizens will be given a place in Maharashtra. 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,” Mr. Mundhe said.

Action has also been taken against illegal gutka, flavoured tobacco and prohibited products as well. The FDA has moved to suspend and cancel licenses of hotels, restaurants, caterers and food businesses that violate sanitation and food safety rules.

As part of FDA’s enforcement campaign, it has inspected 3,137 establishments, issued 764 improvement notices, made 165 license suspensions, filed 532 FIRs and arrested 714 people in connection. Concerning prohibited articles (gutkha, flavoured tobacco), 676 establishments were inspected, and 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 also seized in connection with this. Konkan and Nashik account for the largest seizure values at ₹1.80 crore and ₹3.49 crore respectively.

Concerning milk products, 476 inspections were made, 196 improvement notices were sent, 16 establishments were suspended, 1,49,775 kg of milk products were seized worth ₹3.82 crore, and two FIRs were filed. Konkan alone accounts for ₹2.48 crore of milk product seizures, and 65% of the State total. Other products like edible oil, amla, laddu, khoa, bakery, candy, jaggery, ghee, dates, ice cream and kulfi, frozen dessert, and spices were also inspected. 608 establishments were inspected, and 25,26,822 kg of product were seized worth ₹36.00 crore.

The FDA press release notes that the Supreme Court has flagged milk adulteration as a serious public health danger and directed states to act. FSSAI Central Advisory Committee has recommended a strict policy on Analogue in Dairy Context products

The FDA has effectively enforced this ban and directed all Joint Commissioners (Food), Assistant Commissioners (Food), Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers in the State to conduct a special inspection drive. Detailed inspections will be carried out at production centres, warehouses, transport systems, wholesale markets, retail outlets and food service establishments, and samples of suspect products will be collected. If necessary, goods will be seized and destroyed, and legal action will be taken against offenders. Any violation by any person, institution or food business operator will be dealt with strictly under the penal provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The FDA has launched a website which is a multilingual and AI-enabled online grievance redressal system for citizens to file complaints regarding food or medicines. It provides automated complaint registration and immediate categorisation to the concerned authorities, automated escalation and complete tracking. One can access the FDA Complaint Portal here – https://complaints.mahafda.in

Published – August 06, 2026 04:14 am IST