Paneer tikka, paneer lababdar, paneer 65, paneer butter masala, hariyali paneer, paneer kofta – there are endless dishes that can be made by using paneer! This beloved staple in the Indian kitchen is made by curdling milk and then draining excess liquid, resulting in mildly firm cottage cheese or paneer. While everyone from kids to elders loves paneer, there are chances that you might not be consuming real paneer at all! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a notice to all hotels and restaurants, wherein their licences will be suspended if found using non-dairy paneer. Keep reading to know the whole story.
Hotels To Lose Licence If Found Using Non-Dairy Paneer
Paneer Problems: No More Non-Dairy Paneer
The FDA has issued a notice to hotel and restaurant owners, stating that the FDA might suspend their licenses. The reason? If hotels and restaurants are found using cheese analogues instead of paneer in their food, their licences will be suspended. FDA also instructed these establishments to clearly mention the use of cheese analogues in their food, if any. They’ll now be required to present information about the use of cheese analogues using boards, signage, or electronic displays. This is a step to curb down misinformation and adulteration of food.
If you are wondering what cheese analogues are, worry not, we’ll help you out on that. Cheese analogues are non-dairy, plant-based products that are used as culinary substitutes for paneer. These products are made to mimic the taste and texture of paneer and other dairy-based cheeses. While consuming cheese analogues (analogue paneer in this context) does not pose a health hazard, hotels and restaurants cannot legally sell these products under the name of paneer.
Analogue Paneer: New Order By FDA Commissioner
There have been alleged reports of hotels and restaurants using analogue paneer and selling food dishes under the guise that they’ve been made from real paneer. FDA Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar stepped up and rolled out an order to his officers. He stated that, “These establishments have been misleading and cheating consumers by using the cheese analogues instead of paneer”. Narvekar has ordered officers on the field to conduct strict inspection raids on these establishments.
Section 18(2)(e) of the Food Safety and Standards Act establishes that consumers have the complete right to know the ingredients of the dishes that they consume. Failing to do so not only deprives consumers of their basic right but also compromises their health.
The FDA commissioner has also ordered all joint and assistant commissioners and food safety officers across the state to conduct inspections of at least 10 establishments in their areas. This is to ensure that they use real paneer. He has also ordered them to inspect the purchase invoices to ensure that the establishments are not using cheese analogues.
In a recent order sent out by FDA commissioner Rajesh Narvekar, officers on the field have been asked to strictly conduct inspection raids to curb the allegedly rampant use of analogue paneer by restaurants, hotels, caterers, and fast food establishments. Narvekar has instructed officers to conduct awareness sessions among consumers about the use of cheese analogues and the provisions in Section 18(2)(e) of the Food Safety and Standards Act and submit their reports by May 2, 2025.
Summing Up
Recently, many studies conducted nationwide have shown that paneer is the most adultered food product in India. Moreover, a customer’s video about eating ‘fake’ paneer in Gauri Khan’s Torii grabbed headlines, even though the restaurant issued a clarification later. Now, the FDA has issued a notice to hotels and restaurants and warned them against the misuse of cheese analogues or non-dairy paneer. If found red-handed, these establishments will have their licences suspended. Make sure to buy paneer only from local milkmen or a trusted brand. Alternatively, you can even make paneer at home to save money and ensure good quality.
