PANEER OR PRETEND? UNMASKING INDIA'S GREAT DAIRY DECEPTION

It looks like paneer, tastes almost like paneer - but is it really paneer? From roadside stalls to upscale kitchens, the rise of fake, synthetic, or adulterated paneer is a culinary scandal hiding in plain sight.

- By Gauri Ghadge

For millions of Indians who enjoy paneer as a protein-rich, vegetarian staple, this is more than just a quality concern - it's a public health crisis. In this deep dive, we explore what fake paneer is, how it's made, where it's found, how it harms your body, and what you can do to protect your plate.

THE ILLUSION ON YOUR PLATE

Walk into any dhaba, fast food stall, or even a midrange restaurant and order a paneer dish - there's a good chance what you're served isn't what you think. In 2022 alone, raids across major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow uncovered several operations producing synthetic paneer using ingredients that had no business being in food. These included chalk powder, detergent, hydrogenated fats, and starches - all crafted to visually and texturally mimic authentic paneer.

In a shocking case from Agra in 2023, nearly 1,500 liters of synthetic milk and 300 kg of fake paneer were confiscated by local authorities. The racket had been running for over three years, distributing to hotels and caterers in bulk. Disturbingly, lab analysis showed the samples contained no real dairy whatsoever just a concoction of palm oil, caustic soda, and urea.

THE ANATOMY OF FAKE PANEER

So what exactly is fake paneer? Also known as "analogue paneer" or "synthetic paneer," this imitation is typically made by combining refined oils, starch, citric acid, and food-grade chemicals to replicate the creamy texture and neutral taste of real paneer. Unlike authentic paneer, which is made by curdling milk with lemon juice or vinegar, fake paneer skips the dairy altogether or uses synthetic milk-a concoction made from detergent and white pigment.