How to identify fake paneer? Food Pharmer shares three simple tests

According to health experts, analogue paneer has a lower protein content and contains unhealthy fats, like trans fats which can cause serious health complication.

Written by Health Desk

Updated: February 18, 2025 18:06 IST

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Paneer (Image Credits: Pexels)

In the recent years, the presence of fake paneer, also known as synthetic paneer or analogue paneer, is increasing raising concerns among health experts. Although it looks and tastes almost exactly like the regular paneer, analogue paneer is often made up of made with vegetable oil, starch, and milk solids.

According to health experts, analogue paneer has a lower protein content and contains unhealthy fats, like trans fats which can cause serious health complication. Recently, Revant Himatsingka, better known as FoodPharmer, took to social media platform X and shared analogue paneer (paneer made with palm oil) is spreading across India. He also shared three simple tests that you can do to know if a paneer is fake or real.

Here are three simples tests to know if a paneer is fake or real:

𝐃𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭: boil paneer, add toor dal, and wait for 10 minutes. If the water turns red, urea may be present in your paneer.
𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭: the ingredient list of analogue paneer will have “starch” and “palm/vegetable oil” written.
𝐈𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭: Put a few drops of iodine on the paneer. If it turns blue, it is analogue paneer.