Are Vloggers Getting Paneer Tests All Wrong? What Experts Say Amid Gauri Khan Restaurant Row
Celebrated clinical dietician Deepta Nagpal, who holds a specialisation in chronic disorders, has called out the random “purity tests” being conducted by bloggers at restaurants without adherence to proper testing protocol.
“Science experiments aren’t food audits. The iodine test detects starch, not fake paneer. A colour change doesn’t always mean it’s inedible or unauthentic,” Nagpal tweeted amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Gauri Khan’s tony Mumbai restaurant Torii, which has been accused by a YouTuber of serving fake paneer based on a test touted as an indicator of potential adulteration.
“Paneer dishes may have added starch for texture or from coatings. Food safety needs more than viral videos and half-baked tests,” Nagpal added.
The allegation of the aforementioned vlogger, Sarthak Sachdeva, against Khan’s restaurant went viral last week, leading the establishment to release a statement. He also performed similar tests at restaurants owned by celebrities like cricketer Virat Kohli and actors Shilpa Shetty and Bobby Deol, “which passed the test”.
Of late, there has been a spate of videos on social media where vloggers conduct numerous non-peer-reviewed tests — such as the ‘iodine test’. “On boiled paneer, put some iodine tincture. If the colour remains the same then the paneer is pure. But if the colour turns blue then the paneer has starch in it and is artificially made,” says one such influencer’s post.
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Response Of Torii
According to media reports, in its response to Sachdeva’s allegations, Torii (via an Instagram post not available anymore) clarified that the iodine test conducted by Sachdeva, which resulted in the paneer turning black, indicates the presence of starch but does not necessarily mean the paneer is fake. They explained that the reaction could be due to soy-based ingredients present in the dish, and said they stand by the purity of their paneer and the integrity of their ingredients.
‘Terrible Misinformation’
Celebrity and Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna took to his social media amid the row, and panned the videos. He said, “I’ve been cooking and working with the science of food for the past several decades. I’ve never seen such terrible misinformation, like a YouTuber who claims to be a food scientist.”
“IODINE changes colour with reaction under the presence of ingredients: potatoes, rice, bread, cornflour, flour, and unripe bananas. The use of these ingredients (and thus the reaction) could also happen in cross-contamination. It’s scary that unqualified people are taken seriously,” he added.
According to a report in the Indian Express, Bharathi Kumar, dietician at Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru, said, “The presence of starch in paneer can indicate adulteration, as it is not a natural component of pure paneer.”
Kumar, however, added that, in a restaurant dish, it could just mean that other ingredients are present. “The iodine test is a quick indicator — not a fool-proof method.”
What Is Fake Paneer?
Also known as analogue or synthetic paneer, ‘fake paneer’ is a product that mimics the appearance and taste of paneer but is made with non-dairy ingredients like vegetable oils, starch, and additives instead of dairy milk.
It can be made from things like:
- Starch and milk powder mixtures
- Detergent-based curdling agents
- Synthetic milk or non-edible oils
These versions often lack the texture, taste, and nutritional value of real paneer, and, in some cases, may be harmful to health.
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How Starch Test Is Done
This is a quick check for paneer adulteration:
- Add a few drops of iodine to a paneer sample.
- Blue-black colour → Starch present (possible adulteration)
- No colour change → Likely pure paneer
How Reliable Is This Test?
- Presence of starch does not always indicate fake paneer. Sometimes, soy paneer or coatings may contain starch naturally
- Test isn’t reliable on cooked/prepared dishes that might include other ingredients (sauces, thickeners, etc)
- Lab tests are essential for conclusive results
The writer is a senior independent journalist.
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