The fast-moving world, where everything is available with the touch of a button, convenience can make people think about the choices that can adversely affect their health. While Zomato is known to be one of the best food delivery systems in India, recently an X user (previously Twitter) posted about the sale of Analogue paneer to restaurants on the platform.
Also known as synthetic or fake paneer, the quality of the dishes sold by the restaurants comes into question. Since there is no mention of what kind of paneer is being used to make different dishes, the X user, Sumit Behal rightly pointed out the lack of disclaimers given by both Zomato and the restaurants involved in buying Analogue paneer.
“India loves paneer dishes and restaurants sell fake paneer made with vegetable oils without any disclaimer. They made you believe that you are eating healthy food by eating varieties of paneer dishes over junk food,” writes Sumit Behal on X. But what exactly is Analogue paneer and how is it different from the traditional and nutrient-rich paneer? Read on to find out.
What Is Analogue Paneer?
Analogue paneer, or synthetic paneer is a type of cheese that is made with non-dairy ingredients. Unlike the traditional paneer which is made with curdling of milk, analogue paneer can be made with vegetable oils, starches, and food additives to make it resemble the taste and texture of the dairy product.
One of the major concerns that comes with the sale of analogue paneer is its health implications. While the milk-based paneer is high in protein and nutrients, analogue paneer has very low nutritional value and can also be harmful in the long run.
Apart from the nutritional value, analogue paneer is much cheaper than regular paneer. As per the screenshot of Zomato shared on X, 1 kg of analogue paneer was priced at Rs 210, whereas 1kg of milk-based paneer costs more than Rs 400. So, restaurants that are trying to make cuts seek out the synthetic paneer. Another differentiating factor is the use of artificial taste enhancers to make analogue paneer which helps to make it taste just like the regular one. The additives make it high in trans fat, thus raising health concerns.