The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Central Government and the Delhi Government on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking action against non-dairy products allegedly being sold or served as paneer without adequate disclosure.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma directed the authorities, including the Commissioner of Food Safety, to file their responses within six weeks. However, the court declined to issue interim directions for an immediate enforcement drive. <Cite refs={["turn399716news0","turn399716search8"]}/>
The PIL was filed by law student Ridhima Singh and advocate Avlokiteshwar Padmapani Sidharth ahead of the festive season, when demand for paneer-based dishes and sweets typically increases.
Petition Seeks Regular Inspections and Testing
The petitioners have urged the Delhi Government and food safety authorities to conduct regular inspections, collect samples and test paneer at manufacturing facilities, wholesale markets, distribution centres, retail outlets, restaurants and other food-service establishments.
They argue that consumers ordering dishes such as paneer tikka, kadai paneer and paneer butter masala generally expect the products to contain genuine dairy paneer. However, consumers may not be able to identify whether a restaurant or cloud kitchen has substituted it with a non-dairy alternative.
The petition seeks action against products passed off as paneer without adequate disclosure of their composition. It does not seek a blanket ban on legally manufactured plant-based products or dairy analogues that are appropriately identified and marketed.
Existing Food Safety Rules in Focus
The petitioners have referred to enforcement measures undertaken by food safety authorities in Maharashtra and other states, arguing that action can be taken under the existing legal framework without waiting for amendments to regulations.
The case comes amid a wider regulatory debate over the labelling and marketing of dairy analogues. In September 2026, FSSAI proposed a draft amendment to restrict the use of the term “paneer” for products made from constituents not derived from milk. The proposal would require products covered under the “Analogue in Dairy Context” category to discontinue the use of “paneer” in their nomenclature, labelling and marketing. The amendment remains a proposal and should not be treated as a final rule. <Cite refs={["turn399716search10"]}/>
Implications for Dairy Manufacturers and Food Businesses
The case could increase attention on product identity, ingredient transparency and compliance across the dairy supply chain. Manufacturers, distributors, caterers, restaurants and cloud kitchens may face greater scrutiny over how paneer and non-dairy alternatives are described to consumers.
For organised dairy companies, consistent enforcement could help distinguish milk-derived paneer from products made using non-milk ingredients. For food-service businesses, the issue highlights the importance of accurate menu descriptions and transparent disclosure of substitutes.
The court has not ruled on the merits of the allegations. Its latest order seeks responses from the authorities, while the request for immediate interim enforcement action was declined at this stage.
The next steps will depend on the responses filed by the authorities and further proceedings in the case.
Source: Dairynews7x7 15 Oct, 2026 Read full article here
#DairyIndustry #FoodSafety #Paneer #FSSAI #DairyRegulations #FoodLabelling #DairyNews7x7
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