Indian cuisine is incomplete without paneer and because of its versatility it is served as appetizers, included in rich curries and many more. However, in the recent years, the authenticity of paneer has become a cause of concern.
Recently, a post on social media platform, X, claimed that fast food chains like KFC, Burger King and McDonalds are using fake paneer in their food products. In the post, the X user shared two videos exposing fake paneer with Iodine tincture test.
Kal KFC ka paneer fail hote huey dekha tha, aaj McDonalds aur Burger King ka bhi paneer fail
— Sameer (@BesuraTaansane) March 8, 2025
Will you try this in US/Europe @mcdonaldsindia @BurgerKing ?
Food and drug adulteration has reached alarming proportions due to zero fear of law @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/aPTGx8weca
To do the Iodine tincture test, boil the paneer in water, let it cool, and add a few drops of iodine tincture. If it turns blue, it indicates the presence of starch, meaning the paneer is likely synthetic.
Reassuring their consumers, McDonald’s India clarified that the paneer used in their products is 100% dairy-based and made of real milk.
“There have been misleading videos circulating, falsely claiming that our paneer is not real. We would like to reiterate that the paneer used in our products is 100% dairy-based and made of real milk, sourced from FSSAI-licensed, globally recognized, and approved suppliers who adhere to the highest food quality and safety standards and serve us real food at all times.
Most testing protocols are designed for raw ingredients and not finished products. In the case of our Paneer Patty, any starch present comes from the coating process and is solely on the surface of the patty.
Visit our blog for more information and to know the results of iodine test on our raw paneer,” said the brand in response to the videos.
According to FSSAI regulations, an “analogue” product is one where milk constituents are either fully or partially replaced with non-dairy ingredients, yet the final product mimics the appearance and function of traditional dairy.
Also known as synthetic or fake paneer, analogue paneer is gaining popularity because it costs nearly half as much as dairy-based paneer while maintaining a similar taste and texture. However, unlike real paneer, analogue paneer contains emulsifiers, starch, and low-quality vegetable oils. Many manufacturers use vegetable oils, milk solids, and starch as primary ingredients, raising concerns about its impact on health, Business Standard reported.
What are the health risk of fake paneer?
The primary concern is its high trans fat content, which is linked with serious health issues, including:
- Heart disease
- Inflammation
- Digestive issues
(The story and headline have been updated after McDonald’s issued a statement.)