India's FSSAI considers national ban on analogue paneer and school-zone junk food restrictions

India’s food regulator is weighing a central rule to ban analogue paneer, as it steps up scrutiny of food products ahead of the festive season.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is also preparing a draft to prohibit high-fat, sugar and salt foods within 50 metres of schools across the country, while pushing quick-commerce platforms to display manufacturing and expiry dates more prominently on their apps.

Rajit Punhani, chief executive officer, FSSAI said that the authority is working on a central regulation to ban analogue paneer following ban in 8 states and several crackdowns across India.

Several states like Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have imposed ban on analogue or non-dairy paneer.

The prohibition covers the manufacture, processing, preparation, packing, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of such products.

The recent state-level crackdown comes amid concerns over products that resemble dairy foods but are made partly or entirely with non-dairy ingredients. Analogue paneer can involve the replacement of milk fat or milk solids with vegetable oil, vegetable fat or other non-dairy ingredients.

Talking about the recent crackdown on eCommerce and quick commerce companies in several states Punhani said that one to the key concerns is the missing manufacturing and expiry dates in these platforms.

"Date of manufacturing and expiry are not mentioned on e-commerce platforms.we are trying to nudge them to put it," Punhani said.

The authority is also drafting regulations to prohibit sale of food items high in fat, salt and sugar in and around schools across the country. This is a part of FSSAI's Eat Right Campaign for children, the ceo said.

“We have done lots of raids before the festival season,” Rajit Punhani, FSSAI Chief Executive Officer said, adding that he hopes the crackdown will make this year’s festivities healthier.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a series of measures that prohibit the sale, advertisement and free distribution of junk food within a 50 metre radius of schools across the state.

Delhi imposed similar prohibitions following a court case. By restricting the availability food items high in fat, salt and sugar around schools will improve the quality of food served inside campuses. The food regulator also hopes to encourage healthier eating habits among students and reduce long-term health risks.