Gujarat govt bans unauthorised analogue dairy products over public health concerns

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of unauthorised analogue paneer, cheese and butter across the state, citing public health concerns.

The ban, which came into effect on Thursday, was announced by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya, who said the decision was taken to safeguard public health and ensure that consumers are not misled by products made using non-dairy ingredients.

Announcing the decision, Pansheriya said the state government would not tolerate any compromise with people’s health and that the production and distribution of analogue dairy products had been prohibited across Gujarat.

The move follows sampling and laboratory testing conducted by the state’s Food and Drug Regulatory Authority, which found that products resembling paneer were being manufactured using vegetable oils and other non-dairy ingredients instead of milk. According to the government, such products mislead consumers, adversely affect genuine dairy producers and pose concerns over food safety.

Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya on Wednesday appealed to food business operators across the state to produce, sell and use only genuine and high-quality food products while strictly adhering to food safety regulations. In a post on X, the minister urged producers, traders, hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food business operators to ensure compliance with food safety norms.

राज्य के सभी उत्पादकों, व्यापारियों, होटल, रेस्टोरेंट, कैटरर्स एवं फूड बिजनेस ऑपरेटर्स से अपील है कि वे केवल गुणवत्तापूर्ण और असली खाद्य पदार्थों का ही उत्पादन, विक्रय एवं उपयोग करें तथा खाद्य सुरक्षा संबंधी सभी नियमों का पूर्ण रूप से पालन करें। https://t.co/GCAOfV6uKJ

— Praful Pansheriya (@prafulpbjp) August 5, 2026

“An appeal is made to all producers, traders, hotels, restaurants, caterers, and food business operators of the state that they should produce, sell, and use only high-quality and genuine food items and fully comply with all food safety regulations,” Pansheriya said.

The appeal comes a day after the Gujarat government announced a statewide ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of unauthorised analogue paneer, cheese and butter, citing public health concerns.

The government said strict legal action would be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, against any individual or food business operator found violating the ban.

Maharashtra too has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, transportation and distribution of analogue (artificial/non-dairy) cheese, prioritising public health. With this decision, Maharashtra becomes the second state after Chhattisgarh to implement such a ban, with violations attracting imprisonment and heavy fines.

According to an order issued on July 30 by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, wholesale and retail sale, and offering for sale of analogue or non-dairy cheese in the state have been prohibited with immediate effect.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has clarified that if any individual or establishment sells analogue Paneer by passing it off as genuine dairy Paneer, it will be considered misleading to consumers and an unfair trade practice under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Strict legal action will be taken in such cases.

Under the law, penalties include imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, depending on the severity of the offence. Furthermore, if the consumption of unsafe food results in a person’s death, the law provides for life imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.

It is worth noting that this issue was previously raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, where lawmakers demanded a complete ban on analogue cheese. This government decision is being viewed as a significant step towards safeguarding consumer health. (ANI)