Telangana Govt Bans Manufacture, Sale of Analogue Paneer

The Telangana government has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, processing, packing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogue, non-dairy or artificial paneer across the state, citing public health concerns.

The order was issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana, under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and came into effect from September 10. It has been notified in the official gazette under Notification No. 807, dated September 10, 2026. The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) announced the decision through a press note issued on September 11, directing that it be widely disseminated through print and electronic media.

Under the order, any 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 cannot be manufactured, stored, distributed, transported or sold, whether labelled as "paneer" or otherwise.

The move follows a series of food-safety inspections in Hyderabad and surrounding districts. Earlier this month, TG SAFE teams, along with police and Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) officials, inspected 14 dairy units, collecting 21 samples and seizing products worth about Rs 7.19 lakh, including nearly a tonne of palm oil and 476 kg of glycerol monostearate allegedly used to prepare paneer substitutes. Three units subsequently had their food-safety licences suspended over unhygienic conditions and alleged unauthorised use of such additives.

Telangana's ban follows a similar order in Karnataka, where the Food Safety Division prohibited the manufacture and sale of analogue paneer for one year starting August 17. At the national level, the central government has also been considering guidelines requiring restaurants to disclose whether they use genuine or analogue paneer, amid growing concern over the product's use in commercial kitchens.

With the ban now in force, TG SAFE is expected to step up surveillance of dairy units and retail outlets across the state over the coming year to ensure compliance.