Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration department has banned the manufacture and sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer marketed as paneer in the state for one year, the Hindustan Times reported.

Analogue paneer is a non-dairy or partially synthetic substitute for paneer. It replaces milk fat and milk solids with cheaper vegetable oils, making the dairy products cheaper.

A notification issued on August 17 prohibits the processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution and wholesale or retail sale of analogue paneer in the interest of public health.

The ban also applies to food business operators that use analogue paneer as an ingredient. Restaurants, food manufacturers, caterers and other food establishments have been prohibited from using, storing, supplying or selling such products in food preparation.

However, the notification does not cover standardised food products for which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has prescribed separate quality standards. Products such as frozen desserts, processed cheese and mixed-fat spreads, which have their own recognised standards, are excluded from the ban.

The Food Safety Division said enforcement measures would be carried out across Karnataka to ensure compliance with the order.

On July 30, Maharashtra banned the production and sale of analogue paneer for one year, citing public health concerns.

Edited by Tanya Shrivastava.

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