Delhi High Court: PIL on Non-Dairy Paneer, Seeks FSSAI Response

• The Delhi High Court has sought responses from FSSAI, Central and Delhi governments, and the Commissioner of Food Safety regarding non-dairy products sold as paneer.
• A Division Bench, including Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma, directed replies within six weeks.
• The PIL, filed by Ridhima Singh and Avlokiteshwar Padmapani Sidharth, seeks a crackdown on dairy analogues misrepresented as paneer.
• Petitioners requested regular inspections, sampling, and testing at all stages of the food supply chain.
• The Court did not issue interim directions for an enforcement drive, despite arguments about the upcoming festive season.

The petitioners contend that such practices mislead consumers and potentially pose health concerns.

The Delhi High Court has initiated proceedings concerning the sale of non-dairy products and dairy analogues marketed or served as paneer within the national capital. A Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma, has formally requested responses from several key authorities. These include the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Central Government, the Delhi Government, and the Commissioner of Food Safety.

The court has mandated that these authorities submit their replies within a six-week timeframe. This directive comes in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) that highlights concerns over the misrepresentation of food products. While the petitioners also requested immediate interim directions for an enforcement drive, particularly citing the approaching festive season, the Court opted not to issue any such temporary orders at this stage.

The public interest litigation (PIL) at the heart of this matter was jointly filed by law student Ridhima Singh and advocate Avlokiteshwar Padmapani Sidharth. Their plea specifically calls upon the authorities to implement stringent measures to curb the sale and serving of non-dairy items and dairy analogues under the guise of paneer across Delhi. The petitioners contend that such practices mislead consumers and potentially pose health concerns.

Central to the PIL's demands are requests for comprehensive regulatory actions. The petitioners have urged the Delhi High Court to instruct the Delhi government and relevant food safety bodies to conduct consistent inspections, sampling, and testing of paneer products. These proposed checks are intended to span the entire supply chain, encompassing manufacturing units, wholesale markets, distributors, retail outlets, and various food service establishments, ensuring thorough oversight of food safety regulations in Delhi.

The core argument put forth by the petitioners underscores the impact on consumers who, when ordering popular dishes such as paneer tikka, kadai paneer, or paneer butter masala, expect to receive genuine dairy paneer. The mislabeling or misrepresentation of non-dairy alternatives as paneer directly affects consumer trust and choice, highlighting a critical gap in current enforcement.

This Delhi High Court PIL non-dairy paneer FSSAI case brings into sharp focus the broader issue of food safety regulations and their enforcement. The court's engagement signals a potential increase in scrutiny over product authenticity and labeling standards for dairy analogues paneer in Delhi, emphasizing the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's role in safeguarding public health and ensuring fair trade practices within the food industry.

Compliance officers and legal counsel for food manufacturers, distributors, and restaurants in Delhi should monitor the outcome of this PIL. It signals potential increased regulatory scrutiny and enforcement drives by FSSAI regarding the labeling and sale of non-dairy products as paneer, necessitating a review of current product disclosures and ingredient sourcing to avoid future penalties.

Source: Original reporting via Live Law