Paneer is not just a food ingredient in India—it’s an emotion. Whether it’s the creamy cubes floating in a rich shahi paneer or the smoky, charred goodness of a paneer tikka, this beloved dairy product holds a sacred place in every Indian kitchen.
So, when news broke that Zomato’s B2B service, Hyperpure, was selling ‘fake paneer’—officially known as “Analogue Paneer”—to restaurants, it stirred the pot, quite literally.
Social media has exploded with backlash against Zomato, as consumers express outrage over being served this imitation paneer without being informed. Paneer lovers across the country now feel a sense of betrayal, questioning if the so-called “healthy” paneer dishes they’ve been ordering are anything but that.
What Is Analogue Paneer?
In India, paneer isn’t just a food item—it’s often considered a healthier alternative to meaty indulgences. Vegetarians, in particular, see paneer as their go-to source of protein, a staple that’s hearty, versatile, and deeply rooted in Indian cuisine.
X user Sumit Behal captured this sentiment in his now-viral post when he said, “India loves paneer dishes and restaurants sell fake paneer made with vegetable oils without any disclaimer. They make you believe that you are eating healthy food by eating varieties of paneer dishes over junk food.”
For the uninitiated, analogue paneer is the culinary equivalent of a con job. While traditional paneer is made by curdling fresh milk, analogue paneer uses cheaper, non-dairy substitutes like vegetable oils and starches.
On Zomato Hyperpure’s website, analogue paneer is described as being made from “skimmed milk and vegetable oil” with the milk fat replaced by vegetable fat. This synthetic alternative is marketed as suitable for popular Indian dishes like tikka and gravy-based curries.
The Bitter Aftertaste Of Fake Paneer
What’s even more alarming is that fake paneer has potential health risks. Analogue paneer often contains hydrogenated vegetable fats, which can include harmful trans fats. Trans fats are known to increase the risk of heart disease, raise bad cholesterol levels, and contribute to inflammation.
According to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), approximately 2.5 million people in India die every year from heart disease, many of them due to poor diet and the consumption of unhealthy fats.
For vegetarians who rely on paneer for its high protein content, analogue paneer is a double whammy. Not only is it lower in nutritional value, but its use of trans fats could put them at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology found that diets high in trans fats can increase the risk of heart disease by 21%, and India’s growing rate of non-communicable diseases is already a ticking time bomb.
Despite being labelled as “fit for tikka and gravy dishes,” analogue paneer’s poor nutritional profile makes it far from fit for regular consumption. With many restaurants failing to disclose their use of this fake cheese, diners are unknowingly putting their health on the line with every bite.
Also Read: Are You As A Customer Committing A Legal Offence While Ordering From Zomato?
Why Restaurants Are Opting For Fake Paneer?
The allure of analogue paneer for restaurants is easy to understand: it’s all about the margins. At half the price of real paneer, the synthetic version allows restaurants to boost profits, especially when customers are none the wiser. On Zomato Hyperpure, 1 kg of analogue paneer is priced at around ₹210, compared to ₹450 per kg for authentic dairy paneer.
But while this cost-saving trick might benefit restaurant owners, it leaves consumers feeling cheated. Paneer lovers expect to eat the real deal, especially when they’re paying premium prices for dishes. In a culture where food quality is taken seriously, the idea of restaurants secretly substituting real paneer with a fake version has triggered outrage.
Behal’s post on X reflects a broader sentiment of distrust. “This is being sold on the website of Zomato for restaurants,” he noted, sparking further calls for stricter food safety regulations and transparency in the food industry.
Consumers want to know what’s on their plates, and when it comes to beloved dishes like paneer butter masala or malai kofta, anything less than authentic is a slap in the face to Indian culinary traditions.
The Zomato ‘fake paneer’ scandal has spotlighted a major issue in the Indian food industry—transparency, or the lack thereof. While Zomato Hyperpure labels its products correctly, the fact that many restaurants fail to disclose their use of analogue paneer has broken the trust between eateries and diners. In a country where food is more than sustenance, where it is a connection to tradition and culture, this kind of betrayal is hard to digest.
The health risks posed by consuming analogue paneer only add salt to the wound. With India already grappling with rising cases of heart disease and other diet-related issues, the use of products containing trans fats is a risk that consumers shouldn’t be taking unknowingly. It’s time for stricter regulations, better labelling practices, and a renewed commitment to food integrity in the Indian restaurant industry.
After all, if you can’t trust your paneer tikka, what can you trust?
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Hindustan Times, Money Control, Times of India
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: Zomato Paneer Controversy, Fake Paneer, Food Safety, Indian Cuisine, Zomato Scandal, Hyperpure, Paneer Lovers, Restaurant Food, Food Adulteration, Health Risks, Analogue Paneer, Indian Food Culture, Vegetarian Diet, Food Transparency, Consumer Rights, Heart Health, Trans Fats, Food Industry, Indian Restaurants, Zomato Backlash
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, or copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.
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