FDA Raids Reveal Widespread Use Of Fake Paneer In Pune And Across Maharashtra
FDA Raids Reveal Widespread Use Of Fake Paneer In Pune And Across Maharashtra
If you’re consuming paneer at restaurants or at home, be cautious — it may not be genuine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has uncovered the widespread use of fake paneer, known as analogue paneer, during recent raids in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
Experts warn that analogue paneer is made using low-cost ingredients like vegetable or palm oil, milk powder, maize flour, and refined flour. “It looks exactly like real paneer and is hard to identify. Once mixed with spices and vegetables in dishes, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference,” explained.
While authentic paneer costs around ₹400 per kg, the fake version is available for approximately ₹250 per kg. FDA officials have carried out inspections at 79 locations in Pune since April 2024. Out of these, only 22 samples met quality standards. Nine were found to be substandard, four were declared unsafe, and reports for 44 samples are still awaited. In total, 360 kg of paneer has been seized so far. “Branded, packaged paneer is more likely to be genuine. Paneer sold loose is more susceptible to being fake.
Experts also noted that authentic paneer is soft and breaks easily, whereas fake paneer tends to be firmer and chewier — a sign consumers may unknowingly be eating the artificial version.
AAccording to experts counterfeit paneer is being sold in the market but acknowledged the department’s shortage of staff to monitor every outlet. Roadside eateries are the primary users of fake paneer. Their customers are also satisfied with lower-cost meals,” the expert added.
Statewide Raids on Dairy Products
In addition to paneer, the FDA has been cracking down on adulteration in milk and milk-based products across Maharashtra. In the first 100 days of the campaign, 5,176 samples of items such as paneer, GMS powder, and skimmed milk powder were collected. A total of 7,470 samples were gathered throughout the year. Of the 4,719 samples analyzed so far, 419 were of substandard quality, 185 were deemed unsafe, and 8 had incorrect labeling. Over 1,400 kg of paneer, 400 kg of GMS powder, and 1,800 kg of SMP powder have been seized statewide.
These inspections were part of our 100-day target under the current government’s directive.
