Analogue cheese in J&K food chain

Srinagar, May 17: Analogue and fake cheese is in food chain of consumers in J&K and across India, a reality people are mostly unaware of.

On the other hand, a growing number of food businesses are using analogue cheese in their preparations, and also selling it as ‘natural paneer’. While, Food Safety and Standards Association of India (FSSAI) has issued an alert, J&K has had its own cheese scandal, necessitating continued monitoring.

In September, laboratory testing exposed significant adulteration in staple dairy products.

The J&K administration took exemplary action and banned loose paneer containing foreign fats.

In addition, it also prohibited nine popular desi ghee brands.

J&K prohibitionary notice was replicated in other states, however, food safety experts and consumer advocates believe sustained, regular testing drive across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions must be regular.

“Consistent surveillance would uncover far more violations in the diary based sector,” a senior official in Health and Medical Education Department said.

The FSSAI West issued a public notice in April “directing all centrally licensed manufacturers and Food Service Establishments in particular, and other Food Business Operators in general, to strictly comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules and Regulations made there under in respect of Cheese Analogue”.

The notice said, cheese analogue sold as paneer amounts to a “grave violation of the law and must cease immediately”.

The manufacturers of cheese analogues were directed to ensure accurate and unambiguous product naming and labeling to avoid consumers being taken for a ride.

Cheese analogue is a cheese-like product made from vegetable fats and oils instead of milk fat.

It looks and feels like real paneer.

For J&K, the scenario has been worse.

Reputed labs including the National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad, FRAC FICCI New Delhi, and the Food Testing Laboratory in Srinagar found the presence of Beta-Sitosterol in samples from market.

Beta-Sitosterol is a plant sterol marker proving adulteration with vegetable oils.

Many consignments were transported in unhygienic, non-refrigerated conditions, with questionable documentation or traceability, thus rendering them unsafe.

The samples were collected during a special enforcement drive in September 2025, ordered by then Commissioner Food Safety, Smita Sethi.

Following the lab reports, authorities imposed an immediate ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution, import, and transportation of loose paneer containing foreign or vegetable fats.

Seizures of 21 quintals of synthetic cheese and more cheese-based products followed.

In addition, in November 2025, nine desi ghee brands were banned after failing multiple quality and safety parameters.

The labs confirmed adulteration with vegetable and foreign fats, presence of Beta-Sitosterol (non-dairy marker), and significant deviations in Reichert-Meissl (RM) Value (below prescribed limits), Iodine Value, Saponification Value, and fatty acid profile.

Many batches, mostly from Jammu region, were found unsafe for consumption.

Stakeholders are now urging long-term, structured testing drives focused on milk and milk products, with transparent and expedited testing.

In addition, stricter inter-state checks, and public awareness campaigns are then the need of the hour.