PIL in Delhi High Court for crackdown on non-dairy products being sold as paneer

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Central and Delhi governments, as well as the Commissioner of Food Safety to a plea seeking action against dairy analogues and non-dairy products being sold or served as paneer in the national capital.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma directed the authorities to file their reply in six weeks.

The petitioners also sought interim directions to conduct an enforcement drive against such non-dairy products being sold as paneer. It was submitted that in view of the coming festive season, such action is important.

However, the Court said that it was not passing any interim directions for now.

The public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed by a law student named Ridhima Singh and advocate Avlokiteshwar Padmapani Sidharth.

It seeks directions to the authorities to crack down on dairy analogues and non-dairy products being sold or served as paneer in the national capital.

The petitioners have urged the Court to direct the Delhi government and food safety authorities to undertake regular inspections, sampling and testing of paneer at manufacturing units, wholesale markets, distributors, retail outlets and food service establishments.

They have argued that consumers ordering dishes such as paneer tikka, kadai paneer and paneer butter masala ordinarily expect to be served a dairy product and may have no way of knowing whether a non-dairy substitute has been used by a restaurant or cloud kitchen.

The plea adds that it does not seek a blanket prohibition on lawful plant-based or dairy analogue products, but seeks action against non-dairy products being passed off as paneer without adequate disclosure.

It further relies on measures taken by food safety authorities in Maharashtra and other States to argue that enforcement action can be considered under the existing legal framework without waiting for amendments to regulations.