Strict enforcement announced against synthetic paneer across Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration has rolled out a strict enforcement regime targeting synthetic or analog paneer. Effective immediately, the agency has barred the creation, storage, distribution and sale of non‑dairy paneer for a full year. The order, issued under multiple sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, applies to hotels, restaurants, catering firms and cloud kitchens throughout the state.

The directive follows repeated warnings from MLA Vikram Pachpute about the proliferation of counterfeit paneer products. He praised the FDA’s resolve to protect citizens from health hazards and deceptive marketing.

Inspection squads will launch surprise raids on food outlets, wholesalers and manufacturers. Any entity found holding or serving analog paneer will be subject to severe penalties, including large fines, seizure of goods and prosecution under the act’s penal provisions.

Authentic dairy paneer producers must adhere to the 2020 Labeling and Display Regulations, ensuring batch numbers, proper packaging and traceability. Open‑type paneer sold without these controls will be penalised.

The FDA’s recent testing campaign, covering 308 samples between April 2025 and March 2026, revealed that 35.4% fell short of statutory standards. Among the rejected samples, 79 were of poor quality, while 30 were deemed unsafe due to the substitution of cheap vegetable oils and non‑milk fats for natural milk fat. Such adulteration altered critical laboratory values like butyro‑refractometer readings and iodine values.

Nutritionally, synthetic paneer lacks the protein levels of true dairy paneer, potentially disadvantaging vegetarians who rely on it as a primary protein source. The year‑long ban seeks to eliminate these risks and ensure consumer safety.