Restaurant's Paneer License Suspended Over Fake Ingredients

The Bombay High Court recently directed Udupi Swaad Restaurant, located in Thane, to initially appeal to the Commissioner of Food Safety regarding the suspension of its food license. This action followed allegations that the restaurant served non-dairy analogue paneer disguised as regular paneer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had suspended the license after a laboratory analysis of a loose paneer sample revealed foreign fat instead of dairy-based ingredients, classifying it as unsafe.

The FDA's investigation indicated that the restaurant had procured 'cheese analogue' and used it in paneer dishes without customer disclosure. Consequently, the Thane Assistant Commissioner ordered the immediate suspension of the establishment's food license. The restaurant had challenged this action, arguing that an improvement notice and a reasoned order were not provided prior to the suspension. The High Court emphasized that statutory appellate remedies must be exhausted before approaching the court.

Earlier, on August 21, a different bench had issued notices to the State and FDA, seeking their replies. While the court had expressed oral criticism regarding the alleged deception of customers, no findings on the merits of the violation were publicly available at that time. The directive on September 16 stressed the procedural step of appealing to the FDA Commissioner.