Amid growing concerns over food adulteration and rising incidents of food poisoning linked to fake dairy products, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is reportedly preparing to ban the sale of synthetic paneer nationwide.
The proposed move follows approval granted during a recent FSSAI meeting. According to reports, a high-level committee had drafted the proposal in October 2025, which was later finalised and cleared in March 2026.
Officials said the decision aims to curb the increasing circulation of fake paneer sold as genuine dairy products, which poses serious risks to both public health and the dairy sector.
Synthetic paneer is typically manufactured using little or no real milk. Instead, producers reportedly use combinations of palm oil and milk powder to create a product that closely resembles authentic paneer in taste and appearance, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between the two.
Health experts have warned that such products often have lower nutritional value and may contain substances harmful to digestion and cardiovascular health.
At present, nearly 1,000 companies and traders across the country are believed to hold licences for manufacturing synthetic paneer. Authorities are now expected to halt the issuance of new licences, while existing manufacturers may be given time to clear stock and gradually wind down operations to avoid sudden financial losses.
Because synthetic paneer is considerably cheaper than traditional dairy paneer, its use has reportedly become widespread in hotels, restaurants and bulk food supply chains. Officials believe the proposed ban could help reduce the spread of adulterated dairy products in the market.
However, the crackdown has also sparked debate over enforcement. Critics argue that a ban alone may not be enough to stop illegal sales.
Food safety experts say stronger inspections, tighter supply-chain monitoring and regular testing will be essential to prevent synthetic paneer from continuing to enter the market under the label of genuine dairy products.
Experts further emphasised that strict enforcement measures, frequent food safety drives and heavy penalties against adulteration networks will be necessary for the proposed ban to effectively protect public health and consumer safety.