State Issues One‑Year Ban on Plant‑Based Dairy Imitations Under Food Safety Act

Raipur, 31 July – Acting under sections 30 and 18 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Chhattisgarh health authority ordered an immediate shutdown of manufacturing, processing, storage, transport, distribution and sale of all analog dairy items that are presented as real milk‑based cheese, butter or cream.

The regulation specifically lists products that replace milk with vegetable fat, vegetable oil or any other non‑dairy constituent and whose packaging or labeling may mislead consumers.

The restriction will be valid for a period of one year from the Gazette publication date, or until the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issues a final rule, whichever expires first. However, frozen desserts, processed cheese and mixed‑fat spreads remain permissible provided they adhere to the pre‑existing food standards.