A recent controversy surrounding Shah Rukh Khan’s wife Gauri Khan’s high profile restaurant Torii has reignited public concern over food adulteration in India.
A YouTuber accused Torii of serving “fake” paneer after conducting a basic iodine test on one of its dishes. While the restaurant later issued a clarification, the YouTuber was slammed for spreading half-baked facts and sensationalizing the issue for views.
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However, this incident has inadvertently brought attention to a far more serious issue. Paneer adulteration is now becoming a widespread threat across the country.
According to a shocking new report by India’s food regulatory body FSSAI, paneer has emerged as the most adulterated food product in India.
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In inspections conducted between April 2024 and March 2025, 83% of paneer samples failed food safety standards. Even more alarming, 40% of these were found to be outright unsafe for human consumption.
These adulterated variants are often made using synthetic milk, starch, palm oil, and even detergents. Such ingredients pose severe health risks to consumers who rely on paneer as a primary protein source.
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Even in Hyderabad, paneer adulteration has become a growing concern. In January 2025, the Cyberabad Special Operations Team raided a unit in Alwal.
They seized 600 kilograms of adulterated paneer made with palm oil and acetic acid. The fake paneer was being distributed to local vendors and eateries, putting public health at serious risk.
A few months earlier, in October 2024, another raid uncovered similar malpractice. A Milk Products Company, located on the city’s outskirts, was caught producing substandard paneer using dangerous substances.
Over 300 kilograms of adulterated paneer and other dairy products were confiscated during the operation.
Social media users across the country are now demanding immediate action from the government. Suggestions include stricter monitoring of paneer production and sale, harsh penalties for violators, and mass awareness campaigns to educate the public.
For a country where paneer is a staple in millions of homes, this isn’t just a wake-up call. It’s a full-blown food safety crisis in the making.
