Food Safety Agencies Declare Paneer As The Most Adulterated Product; How To Detect Fake Paneer?

As per the latest reports, a food sample test of 702 items in Noida and Greater Noida revealed that paneer is the most adulterated product among other food items.

Paneer is a very common and widely consumed food especially in the North Indian belt. It is a very rich source of protein, calcium and vitamin. However, recently reports of adulterated paneer being on sale at restaurants, food joints and markets has been making rounds and this has people and authorities concerned.

In recent news, the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had promptly urged the Health Minister, J P Nadda, to take urgent action against the sale of adulterated paneer in restaurants, fast food joints and other markets across the country to ensure consumers do not get impacted by it.

Food safety agencies have brought this under their scrutiny after detected fake paneer products in the market. As per the latest reports, a food sample test of 702 items in Noida and Greater Noida revealed that paneer is the most adulterated product among other food items. Reports state that 83 per cent of the samples failed the quality standards. 83 paneer samples and 40 per cent of the products were also declared unsafe for consumption. After paneer, they declared that grain-based products with 36 out of 79 samples failed the quality test and were deemed unsafe between April 2024 and March 2025. This revelation occurred after the food safety agencies carried out 2721 inspections and 520 raids in Noida and Greater Noida.

How To Detect Fake Paneer?

Here are 5 tests you can do at home to check if the paneer that you purchased is fake or not:

1. Might be rubbery, overly smooth, or unnaturally white. Sometimes it feels hard or plasticky.
2. Try the hot water test. Fake paneer when put in hot water will become rubbery, will release oil or have a strange layer on it.
3. Try the flame test. Fake paneer will smell of plastic or chemicals. Moreover, if it burns with a plastic-like odor, it's not real.
4. Add few drops of iodine on a crushed paneer sample. Fake paneer will turn blue and black.
5. Fake paneer will smell like chemical or sour.