📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Kamlesh.legalaid
Food
Delhi HC Seeks Replies on Paneer‑Like Non‑Dairy Products Case
✍️ Business Standard
🗓 15 Oct 2026, 08:36 AM
👁 12
The Delhi High Court has asked for responses from relevant authorities regarding a petition filed against non‑dairy products being sold as paneer. The court seeks clarity on the regulatory and consumer protection aspects of the case.
The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, seeking detailed replies to a petition filed by a consumer rights group. The petition alleges that certain non‑dairy paneer products are being marketed and sold as genuine dairy paneer, potentially misleading consumers.
Respondents are required to explain how such products are regulated under the Food Safety Act, whether they meet labeling requirements, and what safeguards are in place to protect consumer health. The court also wants to know if any enforcement actions have been taken against manufacturers or retailers who may have violated food safety norms.
This inquiry comes amid a growing trend of plant‑based paneer alternatives in the Indian market. The High Court’s scrutiny aims to ensure that consumers receive accurate information about the nature of the products they purchase, thereby upholding food safety and consumer protection standards.
The court has set a deadline for the authorities to submit their responses, after which it will decide whether to proceed with further legal action or to dismiss the petition if compliance is satisfactory.
Respondents are required to explain how such products are regulated under the Food Safety Act, whether they meet labeling requirements, and what safeguards are in place to protect consumer health. The court also wants to know if any enforcement actions have been taken against manufacturers or retailers who may have violated food safety norms.
This inquiry comes amid a growing trend of plant‑based paneer alternatives in the Indian market. The High Court’s scrutiny aims to ensure that consumers receive accurate information about the nature of the products they purchase, thereby upholding food safety and consumer protection standards.
The court has set a deadline for the authorities to submit their responses, after which it will decide whether to proceed with further legal action or to dismiss the petition if compliance is satisfactory.