Uttar Pradesh bans analogue dairy products to combat adulteration

The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has issued a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, and sale of analogue dairy products across the state. The ban specifically targets items such as analogue paneer, cream, ghee, chhena, and khoya.

This decision follows investigations by the food safety department, which revealed alarming levels of adulteration in milk and dairy samples collected from various districts. Lab reports indicated that manufacturers were using hazardous substances to mimic real dairy, including refined oils, soybean products, talcum powder, detergents, titanium dioxide, liquid glucose, and hydrogen peroxide.

To enforce the ban, the government has mandated strict penalties. Authorities are authorized to seize and destroy adulterated products, shut down non-compliant dairy units, cancel licenses, and file First Information Reports (FIRs) against violators to ensure public health and food safety standards.