Gujarat Govt Bans Analogue Paneer, Butter, Cheese

Gandhinagar: The Government of Gujarat has announced a complete statewide ban on non-standard “analog paneer,” cheese, and butter to safeguard public health, ensure food safety, and protect consumer interests.

State Health Minister Praful Panseriya announced the decision following comprehensive sampling and laboratory testing by the state Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), which uncovered multiple instances of non-standard, synthetic dairy substitutes in the market.

Protecting Consumers and Dairy Farmers

“Gujarat is the country’s leading dairy state, where lakhs of milk-producing farmers work tirelessly to deliver quality dairy products,” Minister Panseriya stated. “When consumers buy paneer, they expect genuine dairy made from pure milk. However, products disguised as paneer—made using vegetable oil and non-dairy ingredients—have been misleading consumers, harming genuine dairy farmers, and raising serious food safety concerns.”

Exercising powers under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, the state government has banned the production, storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of non-standard analog paneer, butter, and cheese across Gujarat.

Key Enforcement Measures & Guidelines

• Strict Action: Any individual or Food Business Operator (FBO) found violating the ban will face severe legal penalties under the FSSA, 2006.

• Industry Appeal: The government appealed to all state manufacturers, traders, hotels, restaurants, caterers, and food operators to strictly adhere to the law and use only genuine, standard-compliant dairy products.

• State Campaign: The directive supports Gujarat’s overarching pledge of “Pure Food – Safe Consumer – Healthy Gujarat”.

The minister re-emphasized that providing safe, high-quality, and authentic food to every citizen while protecting the state’s dairy industry remains the government’s top priority.

This video discusses Health Minister Praful Panseriya’s actions and oversight regarding public health standards in Gujarat. DeshGujarat