Gandhinagar: After much controversy over analogue paneer being sold as milk paneer, and numerous raids over complaints around this popular dairy product, there may finally be some ‘doodh ka doodh aur analogue ka analogue’ in the matter, with the state govt’s intervention. On Thursday, state health minister Praful Pansheriya said that all restaurants will have to put up signboards specifying if the paneer they serve is from milk or its analogue form.The statement comes in the wake of increasing complaints about non-dairy paneer being served as milk paneer. Major cities have seen raids on establishments that allegedly served analogue paneer which has vegetable oil, often palm oil, as key ingredient. Amid the seizure of 1,400kg of analogue paneer in Surat on Thursday, govt said checks will continue. “Hotels will have to put up signboards stating whether the paneer they serve is analogue or milk paneer. Earlier, too, the health department had issued a notification in this regard, but a new notification will be issued and the govt will intensify its drive in this regard,” Pansheriya said. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) teams recently discovered that non-dairy paneer was being passed off as dairy paneer in restaurants, hotels and food units. Between Feb 1 and 22, AMC carried out an extensive inspection drive in which 1,083 restaurants, hotels and food establishments were inspected, and notices issued to 432. “Although analogue paneer may not contain harmful substances, it cannot be served as real paneer,” the minister said, adding that action will be taken in such cases according to law.Real paneer contains natural milk fat and is costlier. The analogue variety is made using vegetable oil, starch, milk powder or milk solids and contains vegetable fat. While the Food Safety and Standards Act permits the use of analogue paneer, regulations require that it be mentioned on the menu. Selling it as milk paneer without disclosure amounts to misleading consumers.
