196 substandard and 59 unsafe paneer samples seized in Chandigarh: 5 ways to test the purity at home

Paneer and ghee are two of the most nutrient-dense food items that are even recommended by Ayurveda for regular consumption. Unfortunately, both these food items are often under scrutiny due to intensive adulteration. According to the latest PTI report, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on Wednesday said that the maximum adulteration has been found in 'paneer' and 'desi ghee.' He was citing the result of samples collected and also advising people to buy these consumable products from known sources or make them at their homes.
Sharing details of the results of samples collected, the minister said that out of 531 samples of 'paneer,' 196 samples were found to be substandard and 59 were unsafe for consumption. "There is maximum adulteration in paneer (cheese) and 'desi ghee' (clarified butter)," said Singh.

As per reports, fake paneer is often made by mixing milk powder and water, which is further curdled with lime juice and acetic acid. To which palm oil is added to make it appear creamy and glossy. And this type of adulteration is not good for the human body. But the question of concern here is how to recognize fake paneer or ghee at home. While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a lot of tests and measures to check adulteration in milk and milk products, there are certain ways in which you can do the quality check of store-bought paneer at home as well. Take a look at the following tips and tricks:.

Take a small amount of paneer and mash it using clean hands. Pure, unadulterated paneer will hold its texture, while adulterated paneer—often made from skimmed milk—will crumble or break apart under slight pressure.

To test whether the paneer is natural or artificial, one can use iodine tincture. Add water to a pan, place the paneer in it, and bring it to a boil. Let it cool down, then add a few drops of iodine tincture and see if the color changes to blue, which means the paneer is artificial.

For this test, boil paneer in some water, and after it cools down, add some tur dal powder and let it rest for 10 minutes. If the color of the paneer changes to light red, it is a sign that the paneer is made with detergent or urea.

Boil some paneer in water, let it cool down, and then add some soybean powder to it. If the color of the paneer changes to light red, it is a sign that the paneer is made with detergent or urea.

Always take a small bite of paneer before you buy it, especially open counter ones. If it is chewy, it is artificial, and if it tastes very sour, then there are chances that paneer is adulterated with detergent or any other substandard product.

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