We often indulge in creamy paneer delicacies at upscale restaurants, but do we ever pause to consider the actual quality of the cottage cheese on our plates? Recently, a YouTuber set out on a unique mission to investigate whether the most high-end eateries in Mumbai—especially those owned by celebrities—serve genuine, unadulterated paneer. During his investigation, he allegedly uncovered evidence of “artificial paneer” being served at Torii, a Mumbai-based restaurant owned by Gauri Khan.
The YouTuber, Sarthak Sachdeva, shared a detailed video on Instagram documenting his culinary experiment. In the footage, he visits several luxurious dining spots and orders paneer-based items from their menus.
Once the food is served, he carefully removes the outer fried coating, rinses the paneer in water, and then applies iodine drops to test for starch presence. His first stop was Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, followed by Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian and Bobby Deol’s Someplace Else. At each of these locations, the paneer passed the iodine test without issue.
However, things took a turn at Gauri Khan’s Torii. As soon as iodine was applied to the paneer sample, it turned a dark hue, suggesting a possible starch reaction. In the video, Sarthak reacts with disbelief, exclaiming in Hindi, “Shah Rukh Khan’s restaurant is serving fake paneer. I was shocked!”
Torii’s team promptly replied in the comment section, defending the dish’s ingredients. They clarified that the iodine test only reveals the presence of starch, not the authenticity of paneer. Since the dish includes soy-based components, the reaction was expected, they explained. The restaurant firmly stood by the quality and authenticity of their cottage cheese and other ingredients.
"The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer. As the dish contains soy-based ingredients, this reaction is expected. We stand by the purity of our paneer and the integrity of our ingredients at Torii," read the comment.
The comment section quickly filled with mixed reactions. One viewer jokingly asked how much Sarthak spent at each upscale venue. Another user praised his creativity and initiative, writing, “This guy’s concept is evolving daily,” along with heart emojis. A different commenter added with humor, “Quit YouTube and become a scientist!”
Dr. Kiran Soni, the head of Nutrition and Health at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, weighed in on the topic in a past interview with HT Lifestyle. She noted that while the iodine test can identify starch, it cannot definitively determine if the paneer is counterfeit. “Authentic paneer, made purely from milk, shouldn't contain starch.
A dark reaction might indicate the use of fillers or additives,” she explained. Dr. Soni also highlighted that some commercial producers include starch to improve texture or increase weight. In addition, batter coatings or soy ingredients could distort the iodine results. “A color change doesn’t necessarily mean the paneer is fake—it might just be mixed with starch,” she added.
Who Is Sarthak Sachdeva?
Sarthak Sachdeva is an influencer. He has 520K followers on Instagram.
The YouTuber, Sarthak Sachdeva, shared a detailed video on Instagram documenting his culinary experiment. In the footage, he visits several luxurious dining spots and orders paneer-based items from their menus.
Once the food is served, he carefully removes the outer fried coating, rinses the paneer in water, and then applies iodine drops to test for starch presence. His first stop was Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, followed by Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian and Bobby Deol’s Someplace Else. At each of these locations, the paneer passed the iodine test without issue.
However, things took a turn at Gauri Khan’s Torii. As soon as iodine was applied to the paneer sample, it turned a dark hue, suggesting a possible starch reaction. In the video, Sarthak reacts with disbelief, exclaiming in Hindi, “Shah Rukh Khan’s restaurant is serving fake paneer. I was shocked!”
Torii’s team promptly replied in the comment section, defending the dish’s ingredients. They clarified that the iodine test only reveals the presence of starch, not the authenticity of paneer. Since the dish includes soy-based components, the reaction was expected, they explained. The restaurant firmly stood by the quality and authenticity of their cottage cheese and other ingredients.
"The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer. As the dish contains soy-based ingredients, this reaction is expected. We stand by the purity of our paneer and the integrity of our ingredients at Torii," read the comment.
The comment section quickly filled with mixed reactions. One viewer jokingly asked how much Sarthak spent at each upscale venue. Another user praised his creativity and initiative, writing, “This guy’s concept is evolving daily,” along with heart emojis. A different commenter added with humor, “Quit YouTube and become a scientist!”
Dr. Kiran Soni, the head of Nutrition and Health at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, weighed in on the topic in a past interview with HT Lifestyle. She noted that while the iodine test can identify starch, it cannot definitively determine if the paneer is counterfeit. “Authentic paneer, made purely from milk, shouldn't contain starch.
A dark reaction might indicate the use of fillers or additives,” she explained. Dr. Soni also highlighted that some commercial producers include starch to improve texture or increase weight. In addition, batter coatings or soy ingredients could distort the iodine results. “A color change doesn’t necessarily mean the paneer is fake—it might just be mixed with starch,” she added.
Who Is Sarthak Sachdeva?
Sarthak Sachdeva is an influencer. He has 520K followers on Instagram.
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