In a shocking incident, Surat Police recently recovered 200 kg of fake paneer from a well-known local dairy during a raid. What appears at first to be a food-adulteration case is, in fact, a major public-health threat — one that every household must take seriously.

As a practising physician, I see the impact of adulterated dairy products more often than people realise. Paneer is a staple in Indian kitchens, but when it is made using detergents, starch, synthetic milk, hydrogenated fats or urea, it becomes a slow poison.

This incident is a reminder that “fake paneer” is not just cheating — it is dangerous.

Why Fake Paneer Is Harmful:

1. Severe Stomach & Intestinal Problems

Fake paneer often contains washing powder, starch, thickening agents or spoiled milk, which can irritate the stomach lining.
Common symptoms include:

- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhoea
- Food poisoning requiring hospitalisation

2. Kidney Stress and Long-Term Damage

When paneer is made using urea or synthetic milk, the kidneys are forced to work overtime to flush out toxins.

This can cause:

- Kidney inflammation
- Dehydration
- Long-term kidney load in children and elderly

3. Hormonal & Fertility Issues

Synthetic milk or adulterated dairy sometimes contains harmful chemicals or hormone-mimicking substances, which may:

- Disturb hormonal balance
- Affect menstrual cycle
- Impair fertility in both men and women

4. Allergic Reactions & Skin Problems

Detergent-based paneer can cause:

- Rashes
- Burning in mouth
- Throat irritation
- Sudden allergic reactions

5. Weakened Immunity

Continuous consumption of adulterated paneer exposes the body to toxins, reducing its immune response over time — making children more prone to infections.

How to Identify Fake Paneer at Home

-Texture Test

Real paneer is soft, slightly grainy and breaks unevenly.
Fake paneer is rubbery, overly smooth, and cuts too perfectly.

-Hot Water Test

Put a cube of paneer in hot water for 10 minutes.

- Real paneer becomes soft
- Fake paneer becomes rubbery or disintegrates due to starch

-Smell Test

Paneer should never smell like soap, chemicals, or sour milk.

-Oil Test

When heated, fake paneer may release oil because it contains fats and starch mixtures.

-Price Suspicion

Paneer sold at a significantly lower price than market average is usually adulterated.

My Medical Advice to the Public

1. Buy paneer only from trusted, reputed dairies

Do not fall for cheap rates. Pure milk and paneer have a base cost. Extremely low prices are a red flag.

2. Prefer homemade paneer whenever possible

Boil milk, add lemon or vinegar, strain, and set — this is the safest method.

3. Avoid roadside vendors or unknown dairy brands

Many small setups do not follow hygiene or purity standards.

4. Always check colour and texture

Paneer should be white or slightly off-white — never bright white or spongy.

5. If you or your child develops stomach issues after eating paneer, avoid that brand

Report suspected adulteration to local authorities or FSSAI helplines.

6. Diabetic, elderly and kidney-patients must be extra careful

Even small quantities of chemical-based paneer can cause serious complications.

The recovery of 200 kg fake paneer in Surat is not an isolated incident — it is a warning. As consumers, we must stay alert. As doctors, we urge people not to ignore the quality of foods they consume daily.

Food adulteration directly harms health. Awareness and caution are our strongest defence.