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Time of India
04-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Clear labelling a must for paneer substitutes: FDA
Mumbai: The firmer variant of paneer increasingly used in institutional kitchens is not traditional milk-based paneer, but a substitute known as analogue paneer. In response to consumer complaints about misleading substitutions, the food and drugs administration (FDA) has mandated that establishments using this product must clearly display notices on premises, menus, or packaging, disclosing its composition. Although the use of cheese analogues in the food service sector has been legally permitted since 2021, FDA officials have raised concerns over their use as direct substitutes for paneer. These concerns stem from differences in their physicochemical properties and potential health implications. Hospitality sector representatives, including members of the AHAR (Association of Hotels and Restaurants) and HRAWI (Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India), confirmed that many establishments have already implemented the required labelling protocols. Pradeep Shetty, owner of Maharaja Catering and spokesperson for HRAWI, said analogue paneer is cheaper to produce due to its use of alternative ingredients, but "menu disclosures are essential". Sudhakar Shetty, restaurateur and president of AHAR, said many major food chains are complying with the regulation, though wider public awareness is still lacking. Meanwhile, the Centre is reviewing a regulatory proposal to permit the addition of food-grade colouring agents to analogue paneer to enable easy visual differentiation from traditional paneer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jennifer Garner's sweet photo on sprawling family farm gets fans talking Watch More Undo You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai "Nutritionally, traditional paneer, produced by curdling milk, contains 18-20 grams of high-quality, complete protein per 100 grams, providing all nine essential amino acids necessary for muscle synthesis, tissue repair and metabolic functions," explained Rajesh Bothra, a Navi Mumbai-based nutritionist and gym trainer. "In contrast, cheese analogues typically contain only 7-10 grams of protein per 100 grams, often derived from plant sources that may lack a full amino acid profile unless specially fortified. " Nemaram Agarwal of Rajlaxmi Dairy in Powai said high consumer demand and limited supply have led some dairies to use powdered milk or even lower-quality analogue substitutes.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Maharashtra hotel association held one-day strike to oppose duty hike on alcohol
Maharashtra's hospitality sector, consisting of bar and restaurant-based bars, held a Statewide ''No Alcohol' strike on Monday (July 14, 2025) opposing the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' government's decision to hike excise duty. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) led the strike to counter the Maharashtra government decision to impose a 60% hike in excise duty, a 15% increase in annual FL3 license fees for Financial Year 26, and a 10% VAT on Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) sold at FL3 outlets. 'The one-day strike to grab the attention of the government and make them understand that the tax hike will make everything expensive, which will affect businesses. Secondly, we want to look at it from the larger perspective of tourism, especially when we have got UNESCO status for so many monuments, State should be competent enough to serve tourist from across the country and from the abroad,' said Pradeep Shetty, member of Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI. The duty hike is also seen as a way to fund welfare schemes, including the Ladki Bahin initiative. HRAWI also wrote a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, referring to the proposed hike, which may cause a sharp rise in the retail prices of alcoholic beverages. It also mentioned the consequences that may cause financial strain on hospitality businesses already struggling with 10% higher license fees, 10% VAT, and rising operational costs. 'The annual excise license fees have also been revised upward by 15%, further compounding the burden on the industry. The final price of the product is likely to become the most expensive in the country, making Maharashtra a less competitive destination for tourists, impacting tourism and hospitality,' said Jimmy Shaw, President of HRAWI, in the letter.
