Who moved my paneer? India’s food regulator has a plan to weed out impostors

₹65,000-crore domestic paneer market, according to two government officials and a document reviewed by Mint.Authorities have frequently seized fake paneer ahead of major festivals, when demand surges, giving unscrupulous traders an opportunity to flood markets with adulterated products, posing a threat to consumer health.To curb this unsavoury practice, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposes to make it compulsory for paneer substitutes (products made from non-dairy ingredients such as vegetable oils) as “paneer analogue”, while prohibiting the use of any dairy-related terminology, to help consumers clearly distinguish them from milk-based paneer.“Currently, analogues are designed to mimic the white, creamy appearance of traditional or real paneer, often using starches and emulsifiers to replicate the texture. The proposed regulations aim to empower consumers to make informed choices instantly and promote healthy eating,” said the first of the two government officials cited earlier, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.For clear visual identification, these substitutes will have food colour added to them to ensure that they stand out from the white and natural dairy paneer or paneer-based products.

In addition, such "paneer analogues” will be allowed to be sold only in sealed packages, with a clear instruction that their nutritional properties must be at par with the actual dairy-based paneer.Unlike real, natural paneer that's made by curdling milk, analogues utilize vegetable oil, skimmed milk powder, and emulsifiers that lack the nutritional profile of milk fat. While dairy-based paneer is a powerhouse of protein and healthy fats, analogues have high unhealthy trans fats.