The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed restricting the manufacture and sale of non-dairy analogue products using the term “paneer”, in a move aimed at preventing consumers from being misled about the nature and composition of the food product.
The regulator issued a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, on September 24, 2026. The proposal specifically seeks to restrict the use of “Paneer” for products made from constituents that are not derived from milk.
Analogue dairy products are products in which some or all milk constituents are replaced with ingredients that do not come from milk. Analogue paneer may use ingredients such as vegetable oils, plant proteins, starches, emulsifiers and other non-dairy components to replicate the appearance and texture of traditional paneer.
The concern highlighted by FSSAI is primarily related to misleading nomenclature, labelling and marketing, particularly when a non-dairy product is presented to consumers simply as “paneer”.
Under the proposed amendment, products already registered or licensed under the “Analogue in Dairy Context” category would have to discontinue the use of the term “Paneer” in their nomenclature, labelling and marketing.
The draft states that the proposed restriction is intended to prevent consumers from being misled regarding the nature and composition of the product.
The proposal is currently not a final nationwide ban. FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders before proceeding with the regulatory process.
FSSAI has provided a period of 60 days for submitting objections and suggestions from the date the relevant copies of the Official Gazette are made available to the public. The representations received during this period will be considered before the regulatory process moves forward.
The proposed national-level restriction follows regulatory action by several states against the manufacture and sale of analogue paneer.
FSSAI’s move also follows increased scrutiny of the use of cheese and dairy analogues in food-service establishments. In a public notice issued earlier this year, FSSAI’s Western Region stated that using cheese analogue in foods while describing dishes as paneer-based could constitute a violation of food safety requirements.
Recent reporting has also noted restrictions or bans on analogue paneer in multiple states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
If the proposed amendment is finalised, non-dairy analogue products would no longer be able to use “Paneer” as their product name or marketing description. This could make it easier for consumers to distinguish traditional dairy paneer from products made using non-dairy ingredients.
The development also highlights the importance of clear food labelling and accurate product nomenclature, particularly as plant-based and dairy-alternative products become more common in the Indian food market.
For now, the proposal remains under consultation and has not yet become a final nationwide prohibition.