By Afiur
November 30, 2025
Many foods considered “healthy” in India, like paneer, ghee, honey, and millets are now heavily adulterated. These fakes look and taste real but can harm your health. Here are the some foods most comm
Milk is marketed as wholesome, yet cheap, fake versions contain detergent, starch, salt, and synthetic whiteners.This compromises protein quality and increases health risks.Source: unsplash
Pure ghee is nutrient dense, but many brands dilute it with vanaspati, palm oil, flavouring essences, and artificial colouring.Fake ghee melts too quickly and has a synthetic smell.Source: unsplash
Honey is sold as an immunity booster, but a large share in the market is mixed with corn syrup, rice syrup, molasses, or jaggery syrup.Fake honey doesn’t crystallise and dissolves instantly.Source: un
As millets become trendy, some sellers mix them with cheaper grains, polished grains, or old stock flour.Fake millet flour has no aroma and feels unusually smooth because of added refined flour.Source
Expensive “extra virgin” olive oil is often blended with cheap refined oils like soybean or sunflower.Fake olive oil lacks bitterness, tastes flat, and stays liquid even when refrigerated.Source: unsp
Paneer is seen as a clean protein, but counterfeit versions are often made using starch, detergent, refined oil, and even urea.This fake paneer feels rubbery, doesn’t crumble, and dissolves in water l
Haldi, red chilli powder, and dhania are often adulterated with metanil yellow, chalk powder, sawdust, brick powder, or synthetic dyes.These look brighter but have lower flavour and potential toxicity