NEW DELHI: Amid growing concerns over the composition and nutritional value of analogue paneer, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought detailed information from food safety authorities on how such products are regulated, tested and sold in India.The move comes a day after Madhya Pradesh banned the sale and use of analogue paneer, following similar bans in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.The NHRC has taken cognisance of concerns surrounding the manufacture, licensing, sale and consumption of analogue paneer, particularly its composition, nutritional value, food safety and consumers’ right to accurate information.According to the NHRC, the Bench has sought to examine a fundamental question: what is the regulatory and nutritional justification for permitting a product substantially different from conventional milk-derived paneer to be manufactured and sold as a paneer substitute?The Commission has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to clarify the regulatory status of analogue paneer, its permissible composition, nutritional implications, health concerns, applicable standards and testing methodology.The Bench has also sought clarification on scientific methods for distinguishing milk-derived paneer from products containing vegetable oils/fats and other non-milk ingredients.It has specifically sought information on the relevance of beta-sitosterol as a testing parameter for identifying such products.Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories have been directed to provide information on the manufacture, supply, sale and serving of analogue paneer, along with details of inspections, sampling, violations and enforcement action.The objective is to determine whether consumers are able to make an informed choice when purchasing or consuming such products.The concerned authorities have been directed to submit Action Taken Reports within two weeks of receiving the notices.The matter came before the Commission following a complaint filed by the Advanced Study Institute of Asia (ASIA), Centre for Health Equity, along with its report titled “Analogue Paneer in India: A Food-Systems Threat to Health Equity.”The Commission considered the concerns raised in the complaint and the accompanying report while taking cognisance of the matter. (ANI)(With ANI inputs)
