Maharashtra Government Bans Analog Paneer; FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde Spearheads Strict Crackdown

The Maharashtra government has imposed a complete ban on analog paneer across the state, making it illegal to manufacture, pack, store, transport, or sell the product. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Munde issued the order, noting that selling analog paneer while passing it off as dairy paneer will be treated as fraud and an unfair trade practice under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Key Highlights:
- Penalties: Violators face up to 6 months in prison and fines up to 1 lakh rupees, while cases involving unsafe food leading to death can result in life imprisonment and fines of at least 10 lakh rupees.
- Expanding Bans: Gujarat has also recently announced a ban on analog paneer, cheese, and butter.
- High-Profile Action: FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde recently made headlines for inspecting Bombay High Court canteens following court observations, issuing stop-business notices to canteens lacking FSSAI licenses.