Food safety teams have been seizing and destroying fake, poor-quality paneer in large quantities from various states recently.
Consuming fake paneer can trigger multiple health issues and even long-term risks like kidney and liver damage.
Food safety teams suggest a few tips to check whether the paneer you bought is fresh or fake. However, be aware that it's not an alternative to lab testing.
Boil a piece of the paneer in water. If it dissolves or oozes out oil, it's not fresh. Fresh paneer won't release oil, though it will soften.
Fake paneer has a chemical/detergent smell, sliminess, and excessive whiteness. Fresh paneer has a mild milky odour.
Poor quality paneer can be rubbery, and when pressed, it can crumble completely. Fresh ones are firm and crumble slightly when pressed.