Why Food Safety Officers Are Checking Fake Paneer
India's food safety group is checking fake paneer, known as analogue paneer, because some sellers try to trick people into buying it as real cheese.
What is fake paneer?
Real paneer is made from cow or buffalo milk. Fake paneer, which experts call analogue paneer, is made by mixing vegetable oil and powder with milk solids. It looks and feels a lot like real cheese, but it is made with cheaper plant fat instead of pure milk fat.
Why is the government checking it?
The food safety group in India, called the FSSAI, says making fake paneer is not against the law by itself. However, many shops and companies sell this fake cheese while pretending it is real paneer. This tricks buyers into paying high prices for cheaper ingredients.
- Shops must label fake paneer clearly so buyers know what they are purchasing.
- Selling fake food as real food is a crime under food safety rules.
- Officials want to protect people from paying extra money for low-cost ingredients.
What happens next?
Food safety officers are visiting markets across the country to test cheese products. If shops are caught lying to customers about what is inside their paneer, they will face strict penalties and fines.