Home / Business and Economy / Scrap 'Analogue Paneer' Label, Urges Food Safety Expert
Scrap 'Analogue Paneer' Label, Urges Food Safety Expert
26 Sep
Summary
- Ex-FSSAI director demands scrapping of 'analogue paneer' labels.
- Analogue paneer uses non-milk fats, misleading consumers about ingredients.
- Pure paneer costs double analogue versions, creating profit incentive.
A former director of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Pradip Chakraborty, has strongly advocated for the elimination of the 'analogue paneer' product category. He asserts that marketing products made with non-milk fats as 'analogue paneer' is inherently misleading to consumers.
Chakraborty explained that the original FSSAI standards defined paneer as a pure milk product with specific milk fat and solids content. The introduction of a separate 'analogue paneer' category in 2020, which permits the replacement of milk fat with vegetable fat or protein, is the source of the current confusion and consumer deception.
He highlighted that while analogue paneer might have a similar taste, it is "unhealthy" due to the use of vegetable fats. The substantial price difference, with analogue paneer costing about Rs 200 per kilogram compared to pure milk paneer at approximately Rs 400 per kilogram, provides a strong financial motive for manufacturers to mislead consumers.
The former director believes that this issue is not about protecting traders but about safeguarding consumers. He referenced Section 53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, which allows penalties up to Rs 10 lakh for misleading claims, but argued these penalties are insufficient given the potential profits. Chakraborty urged for clearer labelling to restore consumer trust in dairy products.
