Is that paneer on your plate artificial or real? Centre wants to know

The government is working on a plan to ensure that consumers are not misled while ordering paneer dishes.

- Dhirendra Kumar

The Department of Consumer Affairs is planning to make it mandatory for eateries to declare in bold whether they are using "original paneer" or its artificial substitute — "paneer analogue" — in food preparations, two people directly involved in the process said.

The plan involves restaurants and food joints to prominently display this information on their menus to help customers make an informed choice, said the first among the two people cited above.

The Department of Consumer Affairs is also in discussions with the Food Safety Standards Authority and consumer groups to formulate stricter regulations on the use of artificial paneer in preparations. These talks aim to ensure transparency in food labeling.