Health Directorate issues advisory
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2026: The Directorate of Health Services, Manipur, has issued a public advisory urging consumers and food business operators to exercise caution over the sale and serving of paneer-like products.

According to the advisory, some products sold as paneer are not made exclusively from milk and may contain ingredients such as vegetable fats or proteins.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has raised concerns over the manufacture, sale and serving of such products when they are misrepresented or sold as genuine paneer, it said.

The Directorate advised consumers to check product names and ingredient lists before purchasing paneer and to ask restaurants, hotels and food stalls whether paneer dishes are made from genuine paneer or an analogue/substitute product.

It further urged consumers to report suspected mislabelling or misrepresentation to the Food Safety Administration.

Food business operators, including restaurants, hotels, sellers and manufacturers, have been directed not to sell or serve analogue or substitute paneer products under the name "paneer" without disclosing their actual nature.

Menus, display boards and online listings must also clearly indicate the nature of such products to avoid misleading customers, it said.

The advisory also directs businesses to maintain records including purchase invoices, product labels and source details for paneer and paneer-substitute products, and to cooperate with inspections, sampling and testing conducted by Food Safety Officers.

Comment