Archive · 7 Aug 2026
FSSAI Bans Analogue Paneer Over Health Concerns and Mislabelling
Paneer is a soft Indian cheese that many people love to eat.
Real paneer is made from milk, but some companies make fake paneer called analogue paneer using vegetable oil and other ingredients.
Fake paneer looks like real paneer, but it is not as healthy.
A food safety group in India called FSSAI has banned analogue paneer because its labels can mislead people and it may harm health.
The ban is being followed in three Indian states: Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Analogue paneer has less protein and more unhealthy fats, like palm oil, than real paneer.
It also contains a lot of salt, which is bad for people with high blood pressure.
Made with many processed ingredients, it is called an ultra-processed food.
Doctors say children and people with heart disease or high cholesterol should only eat fresh paneer.
Checking the ingredient label before buying paneer can help you choose the healthier option.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned analogue paneer over mislabelling and health concerns.
The ban has been adopted in the states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Analogue paneer is made from vegetable fats, hydrogenated fats, emulsifiers, and other additives instead of 100% dairy.
Compared with fresh paneer, analogue paneer has lower protein, higher processed fats, and high sodium levels.
Analogue paneer is considered an ultra-processed food, with palm oil intake linked by the World Journal of Cardiology to a rise in bad cholesterol.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- What
- Banned analogue paneer, a dairy substitute made from vegetable fats and additives, due to mislabelling and health concerns
- When
- Recently, though the articles do not specify an exact date
- Where
- India, with the ban adopted in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat
- Why
- Because analogue paneer is ultra-processed, low in protein, and high in processed fats and sodium, posing health risks
Health Regulators
Food Industry
Ban on Analogue Paneer
Health Regulators
Analogue paneer is ultra-processed, low in protein and nutrients, and high in unhealthy fats and sodium, so the FSSAI ban protects consumers from long-term health risks such as heart disease.
Food Industry
Analogue paneer was created because paneer demand exceeds supply; it cuts costs and extends shelf life, offering an affordable alternative that mimics the taste and texture of fresh paneer.
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Product banned
- Analogue paneer
- States enforcing the ban
- Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat
- Reason for ban
- Mislabelling and health concerns from vegetable fats and additives
- Fresh paneer protein content
- 18-21 g per 100 g
- Analogue paneer calories
- Higher than 260-320 calories per 100 g
- Health warnings
- Heart disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension risks
- Official guidance
- Prefer fresh paneer and read ingredient labels