Action against eateries for not classifying paneer & cheese analogue in menu

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The district administration, along with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), has warned of strict punitive action against restaurants, hotels, eateries and other establishments for not explicitly classifying paneer and cheese analogue in menus for the benefit of consumers.Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar collector Vinay Gowda GC has issued directives to FDA to take strict action against any hotel or food business operator who fails to comply with related regulations that came into effect from May 1."Paneer and cheese analogue are two distinct food products, each possessing a unique nutritional value. To ensure that consumers have a clear understanding of this distinction, it has been made mandatory to mention this on menu cards explicitly," he said.Under the latest regulations, all food business operators are now required to explicitly mention the use of cheese analogues on their establishment's menu cards, electronic displays, and other visible locations.FDA commissioner, Shridhar Dube Patil, said restaurants, hotels, caterers, fast-food vendors, and similar establishments often use cheese analogue instead of actual paneer while preparing food items. "Paneer and cheese analogue are two fundamentally different substances, each with its own distinct nutritional profile. Paneer is a product derived from milk, whereas a cheese analogue is manufactured using edible oils, starch, and various food additives," a release said, quoting Patil.Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (and the Rules and Regulations of 2011), there is no ban on the production, sale, or use of cheese analogue. However, it is essential that consumers have access to information regarding its ingredients so they can make an informed decision about whether or not to consume or use it, the authorities said.In accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2020, it is mandatory for food business operators to clearly display information regarding the nutritional components of the relevant food items at the point of sale.