Karnataka Bans ‘Fake Paneer’ Sale Across State for a Year

The rule was created by the Food Safety Division of Karnatakas Department of Food Safety and Drugs Administration on August 17. Was shared with the public on Saturday.

What Is Analogue or Non-Dairy Paneer?

Analogue paneer is a product that looks like paneer but is made by replacing some or all of the milk fat or milk solids with things like vegetable oil or other non-dairy ingredients.

According to the Karnataka Food Safety Department these products should not be. Shown as "paneer" to people.

Under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations paneer is a type of food made from milk. Milk fat is a part of what makes paneer what it is.

Using vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients of milk fat is not allowed in the standard for paneer.

Restaurants and Food Businesses Are Also Affected

The Karnataka government has said that the ban is not for those who make and sell the product.

Restaurants, caterers, food makers and other food businesses are also not allowed to use analogue paneer in their cooking.

They cannot keep, give out or sell food that uses these products if they are being used as paneer.

The one-year ban is in effect over Karnataka and includes making, moving, selling and distributing.

Why Did Karnataka Ban Analogue Paneer?

The Food Safety Department said the decision is to make sure people get products that meet the rules and are not tricked by products that look like paneer but are not real.

Officials tested paneer samples in Karnataka before taking action.

The government explained that the order is not about cases of bad ingredients. Even products that don’t have forbidden ingredients as fake ones might still be affected if they are made or sold as paneer.

The main issue is whether a product that doesn’t follow the rules for paneer is being sold to people as "paneer."

What Products Are Not Affected?

The government has clarified that products with separate standards prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India are not covered by this notification.

Products such as frozen desserts, processed cheese and mixed-fat spreads, which have their own recognised standards, remain outside the scope of the ban.

Strict Action Across Karnataka

The Food Safety Division has said enforcement action will be carried out across Karnataka to ensure proper implementation of the order.

Food business operators have been directed to follow the notification strictly, while consumers have also been advised to remain alert about products being sold as paneer.

The move is expected to impact the complete supply chain of analogue paneer for the next year — from manufacturers and distributors to restaurants and retail sellers.

With this major crackdown, Karnataka is sending a clear message: products that do not meet the prescribed paneer standards cannot be passed off as real paneer.