India’s food safety regulator is considering a central regulation to prohibit analogue paneer as part of a broader effort to improve food quality and promote healthier dietary choices. The move comes ahead of the festive season, when demand for dairy and dairy-based products typically rises and concerns over food adulteration receive greater attention.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is also preparing draft rules to restrict the sale of foods high in fat, sugar and salt within 50 metres of schools. In addition, the regulator is urging e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms to display manufacturing and expiry dates more prominently on their applications.
Central Regulation on Analogue Paneer Under Consideration
FSSAI chief executive officer Rajit Punhani said the authority was working on a central regulation concerning analogue paneer after several states introduced restrictions and enforcement agencies took action against such products.
Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are among the states that have imposed restrictions on analogue or non-dairy paneer. These measures cover the manufacture, processing, preparation, packing, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of such products.
Analogue paneer is designed to resemble traditional paneer but may contain vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients along with milk fat or milk solids. Unlike conventional paneer, which is made primarily from milk, analogue products may not provide the same nutritional value.
The proposed nationwide regulation is expected to create a more consistent enforcement framework and reduce confusion over the sale and labelling of products that resemble dairy foods.
FSSAI Pushes for Better Online Product Information
The regulator is also focusing on the information provided to consumers through online grocery, e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms. Punhani said manufacturing and expiry dates are often not displayed clearly on digital platforms, making it difficult for consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.
FSSAI is therefore encouraging online retailers to make these details more visible on product listings. The initiative is particularly important for perishable food items, including dairy products, sweets, snacks and ready-to-eat foods, which may have limited shelf lives.
Clearer date information would help consumers assess product freshness and reduce the risk of purchasing expired or improperly stored food.
Junk Food Restrictions Near Schools
The proposed restrictions on foods high in fat, sugar and salt are part of FSSAI’s wider Eat Right India initiative. The draft regulation would prohibit the sale of such products within 50 metres of schools across the country.
The policy is intended to reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food choices and encourage better eating habits from an early age. Schools, colleges, railway stations and other public spaces are already part of FSSAI’s awareness programmes promoting balanced and nutritious diets.
Punhani said safe food must also be healthy, while healthy food should become an easy, informed and affordable choice. The regulator’s preventive-health approach is increasingly focused on changing food habits before diet-related illnesses develop.
Towards a Healthier Food Ecosystem
FSSAI’s latest proposals indicate a shift from responding to food safety violations towards stronger preventive regulation. The possible ban on analogue paneer, restrictions on junk food sales near schools and improved online date disclosures are aimed at strengthening consumer protection across both physical and digital marketplaces.
For the dairy industry, a central rule on non-dairy paneer could bring greater clarity regarding product standards, labelling and enforcement. For consumers, the measures may improve transparency and encourage safer, healthier food choices.
However, the final impact will depend on the wording of the draft regulations, consultation with stakeholders and the effectiveness of implementation across states and retail channels.
