Gauri Khan's Torii denies YouTuber's claim of serving fake paneer, says purity checks are rigorous

A controversy erupted after a popular YouTuber alleged that fake paneer was being served at Torii, a luxurious Mumbai restaurant owned by entrepreneur and designer Gauri Khan, wife of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The YouTuber, Sarthak Sachdeva, posted a video demonstrating an iodine test that he claimed showed starch adulteration in the paneer served at Torii.

In the video, Sachdeva visited several celebrity-owned restaurants, including Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian, and Bobby Deol’s Someplace Else. None of their paneer samples reacted adversely during his tests. However, when the paneer at Torii was tested, it turned black on contact with iodine, which the YouTuber claimed indicated the presence of adulterants, leaving viewers stunned.

Responding swiftly, Torii issued a statement rejecting the claims. The restaurant clarified, "The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of paneer. As the dish contains soy-based ingredients, this reaction is expected." The management emphasized that quality checks are rigorously conducted at every stage, from sourcing to serving, and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the highest standards.

Torii further stated that they were surprised by the allegations and stressed that the restaurant holds itself to strict quality benchmarks. “Our commitment to excellence in the food we serve remains unwavering,” the official statement read.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion online, with many debating the accuracy of iodine tests in determining food authenticity. Experts also point out that modern dishes often use fusion ingredients that could lead to such reactions without indicating any malpractice.

Located in Mumbai’s upscale Pali Hill area, Torii is one of Gauri Khan’s major ventures into hospitality, alongside her well-established career in film production and luxury interior design.