That creamy paneer curry on your plate might not be what it seems. Telangana food safety officials made a startling discovery during inspections in Hyderabad on Saturday: several dairy units were using palm oil and chemical emulsifiers to produce what's known as 'analogue' paneer—a cheap imitation that mimics the texture of real cheese without the milk.

Key facts

  • 14 dairy units inspected in Hyderabad and surrounding areas
  • 21 samples collected for adulteration testing
  • ₹7.19 lakh worth of food articles seized
  • Three establishments had FSSAI licenses suspended

The Raid Findings

Teams from the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) descended on 14 facilities specializing in paneer and dairy products. What they found would concern any consumer: loose palm oil and glycerol monostearate (GMS) at units preparing what authorities suspect is imitation paneer.

GMS is a food emulsifier that can bind vegetable fats, skimmed milk powder, and water to create a product that looks and feels like real paneer—but isn't. The seized materials tell the story: approximately one tonne of palm oil, 476 kg of GMS, 1,760 packs of cooking cream, and 150 kg of skimmed milk powder, all under suspicion of quality issues.

Violations and Suspensions

Three establishments faced immediate shutdowns. Laxmi Foods at Gaganpahad showed cockroach infestation and untidy conditions alongside 600 litres of loose palm oil. Dhana Lakshmi Dairy Products at Mailardevpally had blocked drains, foul smells, and house flies—plus 195 litres of palm oil. Natraj Milk and Milk Food Products in Alwel displayed rusty surfaces, dampness, and mold, all while using GMS in their paneer production.

The conditions were frankly alarming. Cockroaches, blocked drains, mold—these aren't just violations, they're public health risks. The FSSAI licenses were suspended on the spot.

Ongoing Actions

This isn't the end of the story. Improvement notices went to Sri Mahalaxmi Kendra and Anitha Dairy, with reinspections planned to verify compliance. Show-cause notices also reached Geetha Dairy and NARMUL (Mother Dairy), with penalties likely to follow.

For consumers, the message is clear: know what you're eating. That paneer might not be paneer at all.