Maharashtra becomes 2nd state to ban analogue cheese; violators face up to six months' jail, Rs 1 lakh fine
Mumbai, August 5
Maharashtra has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, transportation and distribution of analogue cheese, prioritising public health. With this decision, Maharashtra becomes the second state after Chhattisgarh to implement such a ban, with violations attracting imprisonment and heavy fines.
According to an order issued on July 30 by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, wholesale and retail sale, and offering for sale of analogue or non-dairy cheese in the state have been prohibited with immediate effect.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has clarified that if any individual or establishment sells analogue Paneer by passing it off as genuine dairy Paneer, it will be considered misleading to consumers and an unfair trade practice under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Strict legal action will be taken in such cases.
Under the law, penalties include imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, depending on the severity of the offence. Furthermore, if the consumption of unsafe food results in a person's death, the law provides for life imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.
It is worth noting that this issue was previously raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, where lawmakers demanded a complete ban on analogue cheese. This government decision is being viewed as a significant step towards safeguarding consumer health.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who runs a small restaurant in Pune, I've seen how some big chains cut corners by using this analogue cheese. It's just vegetable oil and starch, not nutrition. I'm glad the government is cracking down. My customers trust me to serve real food, and this ban supports honest businesses like mine.
I'm an expat living in Mumbai, and I've noticed that Indian food regulators are getting stricter about food safety, which is fantastic. The six-month jail term and Rs 1 lakh fine might seem harsh to some, but when it comes to public health, you need strong deterrents. Well done, Maharashtra!
This is a good step, but honestly, I wish the government would also focus on the pesticide residues and antibiotics in real dairy products. We are banning the fake stuff, but what about making sure the genuine milk and paneer are also safe? The bigger issue is the overall food quality in our country.
My mother always said "asli ghee aur asli paneer khao" (eat real ghee and real paneer). It's sad that we need government bans to enforce what should be common sense. But this is a great decision. It will protect our kids who love paneer dishes in restaurants and hotels.
It's impressive to see Indian states taking food safety so seriously. In the US, we have similar bans on selling misbranded food products. This will hurt some price-sensitive restaurants, but in the long run, it makes the food industry more trustworthy. Good job, Maharashtra FDA!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.