Analog paneer served in Ahmedabad eateries posing serious health risks

If you are fond of ordering paneer dishes at hotels or restaurants, this revelation could be an eye-opener. According to reports, over 1,500 kg of ‘fake’ paneer has been seized in last six months in Ahmedabad.

A shocking expose has revealed that hundreds of hotels and eateries across Ahmedabad are serving so-called “analog paneer” made from chemicals, vegetable oil and starch instead of paneer produced from pure milk. 

This cheaper substitute, sold at nearly half the price of genuine paneer, poses a serious risk to public health.

What is ‘Analog Paneer’?

Analog paneer is not real paneer. It is an imitation product designed to look like paneer and is manufactured using vegetable oil, starch, milk powder and various chemicals.

The packaging clearly mentions that it is “not made from milk”. Despite this, hotel operators, driven by profit motives, are allegedly serving it to customers while passing it off as pure paneer.

While genuine paneer costs around ₹400 per kilogram, analog paneer is available in the wholesale market for just ₹200 to ₹250 per kilogram, making it an attractive option for cost-cutting by restaurants.

Ahmedabad has an estimated 27,000 small and large restaurants and food stalls. Even if each outlet uses an average of just one kilogram of paneer daily, the city’s total daily consumption comes to around 27,000 kilograms. Producing one kilogram of real paneer requires nearly 10 kilograms of milk.

Given the lack of such a massive milk supply, the use of analog paneer has steadily increased.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations, hotels using analog paneer are legally required to clearly mention it on their menu cards.

However, it is alleged that nearly 90% of hotels in Ahmedabad are openly violating this rule.

Over the past six months, the Food and Drugs Department has seized around 1,500 kilograms of fake paneer. Officials, however, admit that this quantity represents only the “tip of the iceberg”.