Gujarat has joined Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh in tightening restrictions on analogue dairy products, with the state government banning the production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of unstandardised analogue paneer, cheese and butter across the state.
The decision was notified by the Health and Family Welfare Department under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, citing consumer protection and food safety concerns. Food business operators have been directed to stop dealing in such products and ensure that dairy products sold to consumers meet prescribed standards.
Analogue dairy products are formulated to resemble conventional dairy products but can use vegetable oils, starches, emulsifiers and other non-dairy ingredients instead of milk components. The regulatory concern is particularly related to products whose labelling, presentation, advertising or method of sale could mislead consumers into believing that they are genuine dairy products.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the state would constitute a dedicated task force to enforce the ban. Authorities have also warned that establishments violating the order could face legal action and closure.
The crackdown covers a wide range of food businesses, including restaurants, hotels, dairy parlours, supermarkets, caterers, manufacturers, wholesalers and traders. The state has directed food business operators to use genuine and standardised dairy products and maintain relevant procurement, manufacturing and distribution records.
The action follows food safety inspections and laboratory testing in Gujarat, where authorities reported instances of products being sold as dairy items despite not conforming to prescribed standards. The government said the move is intended to protect consumers and support compliance with food safety requirements.
Enforcement activity began immediately after the ban. In Ahmedabad, civic authorities warned food business operators that possession, use or sale of analogue paneer could lead to licence cancellation, sealing of premises and proceedings under food safety and municipal laws. On August 6, officials inspected dairies and paneer manufacturing units and collected 22 samples for laboratory testing; no analogue paneer stock was found during those inspections.
Ahmedabad's enforcement data also showed the scale of earlier testing. During the preceding six months, civic health inspectors had collected 218 samples. Of these, 57 were declared substandard, 23 were identified as analogue paneer and 34 had higher or lower milk-fat content than required. Cases were filed before the adjudicating officer under Sections 51 and 52 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, with penalties of up to ₹5 lakh applicable under the reported provisions.
In Surat, civic authorities inspected 14 establishments involved in dairy-product manufacturing, storage and sale and seized and destroyed approximately 235 kg of analogue cheese. In Jamnagar, officials destroyed 12 kg of analogue paneer seized from a pizza outlet.
The Gujarat action follows similar restrictions in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, making Gujarat the third state reported to have introduced such a statewide ban. Maharashtra has also undertaken enforcement and sampling of paneer and dairy-analogue products, while FSSAI has separately been tightening its approach to the representation and labelling of dairy analogues.
The development comes amid wider regulatory scrutiny of analogue dairy products in India. The distinction between a compliant dairy analogue and a product misleadingly sold as conventional paneer or another dairy product remains important, as regulators focus on accurate labelling, consumer information and adherence to food standards.
For dairy manufacturers, food-service operators and retailers, the Gujarat order increases the importance of verifying the composition, sourcing, labelling and regulatory status of paneer, cheese and butter products entering the supply chain.
Source: Dairynews7x7 27 Sep, 2026 Read Full Story Here
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