In a major move to curb misleading food labeling, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a draft notification restricting non-dairy analogue items from being manufactured or marketed under the name “Paneer.”
The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Amendment Regulations, 2026, plan to add a new clause under Regulation 2.1.1 to cover “paneer made of constituents not derived from milk.” Once implemented, manufacturers registered under the ‘Analogue in Dairy Context’ category must immediately remove the word “Paneer” from their product names, packaging, and marketing materials.
The regulator stated that the amendment aims to ensure transparency in food composition, helping consumers make well-informed buying decisions without being misled by imitation dairy substitutes.
Issued with the Central Government’s prior approval under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the draft is open for public and stakeholder feedback for 60 days from its Gazette publication date. Objections and suggestions can be sent directly to the Chief Executive Officer at FSSAI Headquarters in New Delhi or via the official email provided in the notification.
ICAR Drives Eco-Friendly Waste Management in North-East Schools
Sponsored
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
