About
Paneer is a popular indigenous dairy product of India, similar to an unripened variety of soft cheese, obtained by heat and acid coagulation of milk, entrapping almost all the fat, casein complexed with denatured whey proteins and a portion of salts and lactose. It is widely used in the preparation of a variety of culinary dishes, snacks, and sweetmeats, and is a rich source of high-quality animal protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins.
Safety summary
Paneer is generally safe for the adult population with a well-established safety record across South Asia; it carries no ADI restriction and is regulated as a standard milk product under FSSAI. Because it is a full-fat dairy food (buffalo milk paneer can contain ~25% fat), habitual high intake may contribute to saturated fat load, but no major regulatory body has flagged it as a risk for the general adult population. The principal food-safety concerns are microbiological spoilage and adulteration, not intrinsic toxicity.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Standardised under Regulation 5.1.5 (Chhana or Paneer) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Paneer is classified as a milk product and is mandatory for the FSSAI Milk Logo on pre-packaged labels. Sale of paneer analogues (products containing non-milk fat) is restricted or prohibited.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1PubMed. Effect of Paneer and Cheese Consumption on Salivary Acidogenicity and Calcium Concentration: A Comparative Study, 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2PubMed. Maximizing Shelf Life of Paneer—A Review, 2016. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3PubMed. Paneer—An Indian soft cheese variant: a review, 2014. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4PubMed. Paneer production: A review, 2013. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 — Chapter 2.1 Dairy Products and Analogues, 2011. fssai.gov.in
