AHMEDABAD, Aug. 5: The Gujarat government has announced a statewide prohibition on the production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of unstandardised analogue paneer, cheese and butter, citing concerns over consumer safety and food quality. The decision, which came into effect on Wednesday, aims to curb the circulation of artificial dairy substitutes that authorities say are misleading buyers and undermining the state’s dairy industry.
Issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the order follows months of inspections and laboratory analysis carried out by the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA). Officials reported finding several food products marketed as dairy items despite being prepared largely from vegetable oils, starches, emulsifiers and other non dairy ingredients.
The government stated that the prohibition was introduced after repeated detection of products that failed to meet prescribed food standards. Authorities believe such items not only mislead consumers but also pose potential health concerns due to their inferior nutritional composition compared with genuine milk-based products.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said the FDCA had intensified enforcement drives over the past four months, leading to the seizure of several batches of imitation dairy products.
According to the minister, investigations revealed that many of these products lacked the nutritional value expected from traditional dairy foods and were unsuitable for regular consumption. He added that the government had therefore decided to completely prohibit their manufacture, movement and sale across Gujarat.
Officials warned that any manufacturer, distributor, retailer or food business operator found violating the order would face stringent legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The state government emphasised that Gujarat is India’s leading milk-producing region, with lakhs of dairy farmers depending on the sector for their livelihoods. It noted that consumers purchasing paneer, cheese or butter generally expect these products to be made from pure milk, making the sale of artificial substitutes a matter of serious concern.
Authorities also said the presence of imitation dairy products in the market adversely affects genuine dairy producers by creating unfair competition through lower-cost alternatives that resemble traditional products.
The administration clarified that the ban is preventive in nature and intended to eliminate deceptive marketing practices involving non-dairy substitutes being sold as authentic dairy products.
The Health Department has appealed to manufacturers, restaurants, caterers, hotels and retailers to source and sell only standard-compliant dairy products while adhering to all food safety regulations. Officials also urged consumers to remain vigilant and purchase dairy products from trusted sources to ensure quality and authenticity.