FSSAI cracks down on analogue paneer mislabelling amid regulatory clarity

Analogue paneer has emerged as a focal point for India's food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), as it seeks to clarify the distinction between legitimate dairy alternatives and deceptive labelling practices.

The regulatory landscape around analogue paneer reflects an important nuance: the product itself is not necessarily illegal or adulterated merely by virtue of being an analogue. The FSSAI has formally recognised "Analogue in Dairy Context" as a legitimate product category within India's food safety framework. This recognition acknowledges that dairy alternatives can serve a market purpose provided they are properly identified and transparently labelled to consumers.

The crackdown intensifies, however, when producers misrepresent analogue paneer as conventional paneer or other traditional dairy products. This deceptive marketing practice misleads consumers about the product's true composition and origin, undermining informed purchasing decisions. The regulatory concern centers on fraudulent labelling rather than the existence of the analogue category itself.

FSSAI's enforcement actions target manufacturers and distributors engaged in this mislabelling rather than those who produce analogue products in compliance with regulations. For consumers, the key distinction remains clear: products must be accurately represented according to their actual composition. As the regulatory environment continues to evolve, transparency in product labelling remains the critical compliance standard across India's dairy and dairy-alternative sectors.