India, Aug. 5 -- The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced a ban on the manufacture and sale of artificial or analogue paneer - a non-dairy product made from vegetable oils, starches, emulsifiers and additives - citing health concerns.

It prohibited the manufacturing, processing, preparation, packing, storage, distribution (including transportation), wholesale sale, retail sale, offering or exposing for sale of analogue or non-dairy paneer throughout Maharashtra for a period of one year. Offenders could face life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs.10 lakh. Chhattisgarh had earlier imposed a similar ban.

Analogue paneer is a non-dairy option for traditional paneer made using vegetable oils, starches, emulsifiers and other additi...