Maharashtra Government bans analogue paneer for one year

The Maharashtra government has issued a gazette notification, signed by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, prohibiting the manufacture, processing, storage, transport, distribution and sale of analogue (non‑dairy) paneer across the state for twelve months. The order, effective from July 30, follows a year‑long surveillance drive that found 35.4 % of 308 paneer samples tested between April 2025 and March 2026 to be sub‑standard or unsafe, with vegetable oils and other non‑milk fats used as substitutes.

Violators face up to six months imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh; if consumption of unsafe food leads to death, the penalty rises to life imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹10 lakh. Enforcement raids, including a large seizure in Pune, have demonstrated the scale of the problem. BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute praised the move as a step to protect public health and curb food fraud. The ban mirrors a similar restriction previously imposed by Chhattisgarh and is aimed at preventing mis‑labeling of analogue paneer as genuine dairy product.