Hotels, sweet shops, restaurants and other food businesses in Goa have been directed to clearly disclose the use of milk analogues in food products, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The directive was issued during a meeting convened by the FDA with food businesses, distributors, caterers and representatives of restaurant associations to discuss compliance with regulations governing the use of milk analogues.

The FDA has given businesses four days to implement the required norms. Officials have warned that action will be taken against establishments found violating the regulations after the compliance period.

The move follows complaints alleging that some restaurants were using cheese analogues instead of paneer. Concerns have also been raised over the use of milk substitutes in traditional sweets such as pedas, milk cakes and barfis, where products such as khoya, mawa or kalakand are traditionally used.

The FDA stressed that businesses must not misrepresent artificial or substitute products as genuine dairy-based products. The department is also examining concerns regarding the potential health implications associated with the use of such substitutes.