Maharashtra’s dairy industry has urged the state government to ban analog paneer, a cheaper alternative made from vegetable oil and other non-dairy ingredients, citing concerns over the declining sales of traditional milk-based paneer and potential health risks.
According to the Doodh Utpadak Prakriya Vyavsayik Kalyankari Sangh, over 50% of institutional buyers, including hotels and restaurants, have switched to analog paneer due to its lower cost. Prakash Kutwal, secretary of the association, warned that synthetic paneers not only harm the dairy sector but also expose consumers to excessive vegetable oil consumption.
Analogue paneer, which costs around Rs 110/kg to produce and sells for Rs 150-160/kg, is significantly cheaper than pure milk-based paneer, which costs about Rs 280/kg to produce and is sold for Rs 325/kg or higher.
While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) permits the sale of analogue paneer, Maharashtra’s dairy sector argues that stricter regulations are necessary to curb its rising use.
“If we can reduce the use of synthetic paneer, it will boost demand for traditional milk-based paneer and, in turn, increase milk consumption,” said Kutwal.
The association also raised concerns about growing cases of adulteration in milk, ghee, and khoya, urging the state government to implement stricter regulations to prevent such practices at the source.
To address consumer confusion, the industry plans to launch awareness campaigns highlighting the differences between real and synthetic paneer. Maharashtra’s food and drug administration (FDA) is reportedly reviewing possible amendments to strengthen laws against milk adulteration.
Industry insiders claim that analog paneer is primarily produced by unorganized players and some small regional dairies, contributing to the challenge of regulating its production and distribution.