Gauri Khan’s restaurant Torii refutes ‘fake paneer’ allegation by YouTuber’s iodine test video

Gauri Khan’s upscale Mumbai restaurant Torii has addressed allegations of using adulterated paneer, clarifying that the claims are unfounded and based on a misinterpretation of food chemistry. Controversy erupted after a YouTuber posted a video on social media in which he visited several celebrity-owned restaurants in Mumbai to test the quality of paneer using an iodine tincture.

Among the stops were Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, and Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian. At each location, the YouTuber applied iodine to samples of paneer to observe any colour change, which is often considered a sign of starch content. While no paneer samples reacted at the other restaurants, a dish at Torii turned dark when exposed to iodine.

In the video, the YouTuber claimed, “Shah Rukh Khan ke restaurant mein paneer nakli tha. Ye dekh ke mere toh hosh udd gaye the (Shah Rukh Khan’s restaurant is selling fake paneer.)!” Torii, co-owned by interior designer Gauri Khan, soon issued a statement in response, explaining the science behind the reaction. “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.”