Popular Mumbai-based eatery Torii, co-owned by
Gauri Khan, has addressed recent allegations of serving adulterated paneer after a YouTuber’s iodine test video sparked concern on social media.
Paneer turns darkOn Wednesday, YouTuber Sarthak Sachdeva visited several celebrity-owned restaurants in Mumbai to test the quality of their paneer using an iodine tincture test. His video, which quickly went viral, showed him visiting Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian, Bobby Deol’s Someplace Else, and
Gauri Khan’s Torii.
During the video, Sarthak removed the fried coating from each restaurant’s paneer dishes, rinsed them in water, and then added a few drops of iodine. The paneer at most venues remained unchanged in color, which Sachdeva interpreted as a sign of high-quality ingredients. However, at Torii, the paneer turned dark upon contact with iodine, leading him to exclaim, “Shah Rukh Khan ke restaurant mein paneer nakli tha. Ye dekh ke mere toh hosh udd gaye the!”
Restaurant clarifiesFollowing the buzz, the restaurant promptly issued a clarification in the comments section of the video, “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.”
Sarthak responded with humor, commenting, “So am I banned now?😵💫 btw ur food is amazing 👀,” lightening the mood for followers tracking the exchange.
Statement by Torii, a restaurant by Gauri Khan
An official statement made by Torri, it has been stated, "We are utterly surprised at the news of 'fake paneer' being served at Torii. The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer. For all dishes that contain soy-based ingredients (a staple in Asian food) this reaction is expected."
"From sourcing our produce to the food being served on the plate to our patrons, there are quality checks at every step of the way. Our commitment to excellence in the food we serve remains unwavered," read the statement.