The Assam government has instituted a statewide prohibition on the manufacture, storage, transit, distribution, and retail of adulterated and non-compliant paneer alongside other dairy items. The sweeping directive follows laboratory evaluations that revealed extensive breaches of established food safety regulations across commercial markets.
Laboratory Tests Flag 41 Samples as Deficient or Unsafe
The formal order, issued on October 31 by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Assam, stems from extensive market surveillance carried out across the state between January 1 and October 31, 2026. During this period, surveillance teams collected 60 paneer samples from diverse commercial establishments. Laboratory testing revealed that 41 of these samples failed to satisfy statutory benchmarks, with 36 classified as substandard and five determined to be unsafe for human consumption.
Health Minister Issues Stringent Warning
Announcing the findings on Tuesday, Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal cautioned that food operators engaging in malpractice would face rigorous penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Laboratory examinations revealed significant anomalies, notably deficient milk fat percentages, elevated moisture levels, the addition of starch, and the presence of vegetable oils, foreign fats, and other unauthorized or undeclared additives.
Crackdown on Deceptive Dairy Analogues
Under the statutory mandate, commercial operators are barred from manufacturing, processing, stocking, moving, distributing, or retailing dairy analogues that fail statutory criteria while masquerading as genuine paneer or standardized milk items. The prohibition encompasses misbranded merchandise and items presented deceptively to give consumers the false impression of purchasing authentic dairy foods.
Compliance Mandates for Commercial Kitchens
The state administration has instructed hospitality and commercial food operators, including hotels, dining establishments, caterers, cloud kitchens, and institutional dining halls, to verify that every batch of paneer and allied dairy products complies with current safety requirements. Establishments are required to rigorously verify the ingredients, sourcing background, and compliance certification before acquiring dairy supplies. Furthermore, businesses must immediately withdraw any questionable or non-compliant stock from use or retail and notify public food safety inspectors without delay. The notification clarifies that dairy analogues manufactured in full accordance with statutory norms and carrying accurate, transparent labeling remain permissible for trade.
