Fake Paneer Crackdown in Maharashtra! FDA Imposes 1-Year Complete Ban on Non-Dairy Paneer

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) declared an immediate one-year ban on 'analogue' or non-dairy paneer across the entire state. Under this strict order, the production, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of fake or synthetic paneer-which is made using vegetable fats, starches, and chemical emulsifiers instead of real milk fat-is now completely illegal.

The state government took this decisive action to protect public health after widespread reports revealed that cheap, non-dairy paneer was being passed off as genuine dairy paneer to unsuspecting customers, dhabas, and caterers. To enforce total compliance and eliminate adulterated products from the food supply chain, the FDA issued the order under Sections 18, 29, and 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, giving safety officers full legal power to inspect premises, seize illegal stock, and penalize violators.