Analogue paneer takes the internet by storm!
Have you ever heard about analogue paneer? Is it really good for health?
It’s also called fake paneer or synthetic paneer. Most of us consume paneer to meet our daily protein requirements. Thus, we assume that we are consuming healthy food, but the fact is that we are being fooled. This happens mostly when we consume paneer from hotels and restaurants.
What is analogue paneer?
Analogue paneer mimics the real paneer, but it lacks any dairy content. Instead, it is mainly produced from vegetable oils and other vegetable oils. Most of the features are similar to real paneer, but it lacks nutritional value.
Is it permitted to sell analogue paneer?
Analog paneer is permitted for sale in the market by FSSAI regulations, but it should be labeled as “analog paneer” or “imitation paneer”. It was introduced in the market to meet the increased demand for panner. The price of analog paneer is almost half, and is affordable to the common man.
What are the common health issues caused by consuming analog paneer?
It lacks the essential nutrients and health benefits, and the increased trans fat causes serious health issues. Thus, a healthy protein-rich food can harm our health.
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Heart diseases
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Inflammatory diseases
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Digestive issues
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Nutritional deficiency
How to identify analog from real Paneer?
Some simple tests can be done at home to distinguish analogue from real paneer
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A simple test is that real paneer has a firm texture and milky aroma.
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According to the FSSAI rules and regulations, it should be labelled clearly as imitation or analog paneer.
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When applying pressure real paneer hold its shape, whereas analog paneer gets crumbled.
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For the iodine tincture test, boil the paneer and let it cool. Add a few drops of iodine; if it turns blue, it indicates the presence of starch, meaning it’s analog paneer.
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For the pigeon pea or soybean powder test, heat the paneer and let it cool. Then add either of the powders; if it turns red, it indicates adulteration.
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While heating paneer, real paneer crumble and brown slightly but fake paneer release water and melts unevenly.
Final thoughts- Summary
It’s surprising to me that FSSAI allows the sale of analog paneer, considering the potential health risks it poses. If affordability and limited availability are the issues, there are still other protein alternatives that do not compromise on health.
Strict regulations and monitoring are essential to ensure that analog paneer is properly labeled and not misused in restaurants or hotels, where consumers pay for quality but might unknowingly be served imitation products.
Next time, when you consume paneer, check whether it’s real or fake. What are your thoughts on this? What are the other healthy alternatives to paneer?
Reference
MBH/AB