The Karnataka government has prohibited the production, storage, distribution and sale of 'analogue paneer' being sold as 'paneer' across the state for a year to safeguard public health, officials said on Saturday.
"The Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Karnataka, has issued a Government Notification dated August 17, prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, packing, storage, distribution, transportation, wholesale and retail sales, display for sale and supply of Analogue/Non-Dairy Paneer being sold under the name 'Paneer' in the state for a year," the department Commissioner Srinivas K, said in a statement.
A product prepared in the form of paneer by wholly or partially replacing milk fat or milk solids with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients is considered Analogue /Non-Dairy Paneer, officials said.
Such a product shall not be labelled, marketed, sold or represented to consumers as 'paneer', they said.
According to the department, as per the regulation of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Paneer is a standardised food product prepared from milk.
Milk fat is a key constituent of Paneer, and the replacement of milk fat with, or use of vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients in place of milk components, is not permitted, it said.
"Karnataka has tested several paneer samples, and it is found that there is no adulteration. Even though there is no adulteration of paneer with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other dairy ingredients, the prohibition is ordered in the interest of public health," the department said.
The officials said that this prohibition applies only to dairy analogue products for which specific quality standards have not been prescribed or standardised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The order shall not apply to standardised food products such as Frozen Dessert, Processed Cheese and Mixed Fat Spread, which are already covered under separate prescribed standards, it clarified.
Further, the department has warned that no food business operator shall use, store, supply or sell Analogue / Non-Dairy Paneer in the preparation or manufacture of any food product or food item.
The Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration will take necessary measures across the state for the effective implementation and enforcement. Food business operators have been advised to strictly comply with the provisions of the order.
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