Artificial paneer banned across Telangana

Hyderabad: With cases of artificial and non-dairy paneer surfacing in the market, the Telangana government has imposed a statewide ban on the manufacture, processing, packing, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer being sold as ‘paneer’.

The Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana, issued the order under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, citing public health concerns. The prohibition will remain in force for one year with immediate effect from September 10.

The order has been formally notified in the official gazette through Gazette Notification No. 807, dated September 10, 2026. The move comes against the backdrop of food safety concerns and instances of products being marketed as paneer despite not being made from milk. Officials said the ban covers analogue, artificial and non-dairy paneer in any form, effectively making their manufacture, storage, transportation and sale illegal across Telangana.

The Food Safety department is also expected to intensify surveillance of dairy products, restaurants, hotels, food outlets and other establishments where paneer is commonly used. Officials can initiate action against manufacturers, suppliers and sellers found violating the order.

Paneer is traditionally a dairy product prepared from milk, while analogue or non-dairy products are made using vegetable fats, proteins or other ingredients.

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