Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Indian states ban analogue paneer over health concerns
Analogue paneer is fake paneer.
It is made to look and taste like real paneer, but it isn't made from milk.
Instead, it uses cheap oils, milk powder, and chemicals.
Some states in India have decided to ban it.
They want to protect people's health and stop stores from tricking customers.
Chhattisgarh was the first state to ban it.
Then Maharashtra and Gujarat banned it too.
An expert said real paneer needs a lot of milk to make, so fake paneer is cheaper.
But it has no good nutrition for your body.
The bans will last for one year or until new food rules come out.
Chhattisgarh became the first Indian state to ban analogue paneer, with an immediate ban ordered on August 1.
On August 5, Maharashtra announced a strict one-year prohibition on manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, and retail sale of analogue paneer.
On August 5, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya announced a statewide ban covering analogue paneer, analogue cheese, and analogue butter.
Analogue paneer is a synthetic, non-dairy substitute made from vegetable fats, skimmed milk powder, starch, emulsifiers, and stabilizing chemicals.
Expert Namrata Shergill Sahni said real paneer requires 5 to 6 litres of milk per kilogram, while analogue paneer is cheaper but has zero nutritional value.
- Who
- State governments of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, including Health Ministers Shyam Bihari Jaiswal and Praful Pansheriya.
- What
- Bans on the production, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of analogue paneer and related synthetic dairy products.
- When
- Chhattisgarh's ban was ordered on August 1; Maharashtra and Gujarat announced bans on August 5.
- Where
- The Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
- Why
- To protect public health and curb consumer deception.
- First state to ban
- Chhattisgarh
- Ban duration
- One year or until final FSSAI guidelines are rolled out
- Chhattisgarh ban scope
- Manufacture, sale, and use of analogue paneer, cream, and butter across markets, hotels, and dhabas
- Maharashtra ban
- One-year prohibition on manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, and retail sale announced August 5
- Gujarat ban
- Statewide ban on analogue paneer, analogue cheese, and analogue butter announced August 5
- Analogue paneer ingredients
- Palm oil or hydrogenated oil, skimmed milk powder, starch, emulsifiers, and stabilizing chemicals
- Real paneer production cost
- 5 to 6 litres of milk per kilogram