New Delhi. With the beginning of the festive season, a huge network of fake cheese has become active in the country's capital Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region). In the recent raids of Delhi Food Safety Department, a huge quantity of adulterated and chemical laden cheese has been seized from big markets like Janakpuri, Okhla and Azadpur. It is feared that more than 30 tonnes of fake cheese is being supplied daily in Delhi, the largest part of which is reaching local dhabas, cheap hotels and street vendors. However, the government and concerned departments do not yet have any concrete or official data available on this illegal business.
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Getting ready with chemicals and detergent
According to information received from sources, investigation has revealed that profiteers are not using even a single drop of milk in making this cheese. To make it, dangerous chemicals like substandard palm oil, animal fat, starch, skimmed milk powder, urea and detergent are being mixed. Doctors say that eating such cheese can cause serious diseases of liver, kidney and heart.
How to do 'post mortem' of real and fake cheese yourself
According to food safety experts, common consumers can check the purity of cheese by using these five easy home methods while purchasing it from the market –
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Price Mathematics: The cost of milk to make real cheese is high, hence its price in the market ranges between ₹ 300 to ₹ 400 per kg. If you are getting cheese anywhere between ₹ 100 to ₹ 150, then it is completely analog cheese.
Mash Test: Before buying, take a piece of cheese and crush it in your hand. Real cheese will break apart easily. Fake cheese will stretch like rubber and form small lumps.
Iodine Test: First of all, boil the paneer in water and cool it. Now put a few drops of iodine solution on it. If the color of the cheese turns blue or black, then it is certain that there is adulteration of starch or boiled potatoes in it.
Dal Powder Test: After boiling the cheese, add some pigeon pea powder to the water. If after 10 minutes the color of the water starts turning light red or pink, then understand that detergent or urea has been adulterated in the cheese.
Identification by taste: Real cheese tastes creamy and slightly sweet as soon as it hits the mouth. At the same time, fake cheese feels like gum when chewed and tastes tasteless or bitter. Let us tell you that the Food Safety Department has appealed to the citizens to buy cheese only from registered dairies or trusted shops and in case of any doubt, lodge a complaint immediately.