Hyderabad Drive Exposes Palm Oil in Analogue Paneer

A food-safety inspection drive in Hyderabad has uncovered the use of palm oil and glycerol monostearate in the manufacture of analogue paneer, prompting authorities to suspend the FSSAI licences of three dairy units. The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs inspected 14 dairy units and seized about 1 tonne of palm oil and 476 kg of glycerol monostearate, along with other materials valued at ₹7.19 lakh.

The licences of Laxmi Foods, Dhana Lakshmi Dairy Products and Natraj Milk and Milk Food Products were suspended following the inspections. Improvement notices were issued to two other establishments, while Geetha Dairy and NARMUL received show-cause notices.

Officials also reported serious hygiene deficiencies at some of the inspected facilities, including cockroach infestations and mould, alongside the use of vegetable fats to replicate the characteristics of dairy paneer. The findings add to growing concerns across India over analogue paneer being manufactured or sold without adequate disclosure to consumers.

The Hyderabad action highlights the growing importance of ingredient verification, laboratory testing, hygiene controls and accurate product identification in the dairy and food-service supply chain. With several States tightening enforcement against analogue paneer, manufacturers and food businesses face increasing scrutiny over whether products marketed as paneer actually meet the required dairy standards.

Source: Dairynews7x7 07 Sep, 2026 Read full story here

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