Food-safety developments curated from official sources.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry carried out 127,643 official food inspections across Türkiye in June 2026. The inspections resulted in 2,327 administrative sanctions, and criminal complaints were filed against 32 food business operators. Administrative fines totalled roughly 242.8 million TL. The ministry publishes its inspection figures regularly.
Read the original on the ministry's website →30 June 2026
Under a new regulation by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, national chain establishments in Türkiye must display ingredient and calorie information for the food and drinks they serve before customers order, starting 1 July 2026. The information can be provided on menus, wall boards, digital screens or QR codes on tables. The goal is to help consumers with allergen sensitivities, special diets or nutrition preferences make informed choices. Shortcomings can be reported via the ministry's mobile app or the ALO 174 food hotline.
Read the original on the ministry's website →29 June 2026
The ministry has warned against "dragon's breath" style treats popularized on social media, which produce smoke from the mouth when eaten. The liquid nitrogen used for the visual effect (around -196°C) can, if residues remain in the product, cause cold burns in the mouth and on the tongue, dental damage and injuries to the throat and airways; if swallowed, it can seriously damage the esophagus and stomach. The ministry deems serving food with liquid nitrogen added at the point of consumption unacceptable and asks consumers to report such vendors via its mobile app. Particular caution is advised for children.
Read the original on the ministry's website →18 June 2026
The ministry's barbecue-season reminders: (1) Wash hands before grilling and after touching raw meat; keep surfaces clean. (2) Never use the plate, tongs or cutting board used for raw meat with cooked food (cross-contamination). (3) Chicken and minced-meat products in particular must be cooked through. (4) Serve cooked food promptly; do not leave it at ambient temperature for long. (5) Thaw frozen products in the refrigerator or microwave, not at room temperature.
Read the original on the ministry's website →9 June 2026
According to TÜİK figures shared by the ministry, roughly half of Türkiye's waste is food waste, and 70-80% of it comes from households; 2024 estimates put household food waste at 10.8 million tonnes a year (about 124 kg per person). The main causes are spoilage (72.3%), expired shelf life (12.2%) and buying more than needed (8%). The most wasted items are fresh fruit and vegetables (40.1%), bread (32%) and dairy products (14.3%). While 673 million people worldwide face hunger, cutting global food loss and waste by just a quarter could save enough food for them.
Read the original on the ministry's website →25 March 2026
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has launched its Güvenilir Gıda (Trusted Food) mobile app to increase transparency in food inspections. Users can view establishments' latest inspection dates, look up businesses by scanning a QR code, and access up-to-date lists of adulterated products. A "snap-and-send" feature lets citizens report violations with photos and location, and track the status of their reports in the app.
Read the original on the ministry's website →10 February 2026
According to the ministry, food supplements are subject to risk-based official controls across the entire supply chain — production sites, points of sale and imports — with samples taken and analysed where necessary. Violations can result in administrative fines, product recalls and, where warranted, criminal complaints. Misleading supplement advertising on radio, TV and the internet is also monitored and referred to the relevant authorities. Non-compliant sales and promotions can be reported via the ALO 174 hotline or the ministry's mobile app.
Read the original on the ministry's website →9 February 2026
The ministry's guidance on plastic food containers: (1) Look for the glass-and-fork symbol, a "suitable for food contact" statement or wording that specifies the intended use. (2) Do not reuse single-use plastics — washing and heat degrade the material and increase the risk of substances migrating into food. (3) Follow the microwave, temperature and dishwasher instructions; using containers outside those conditions can damage the plastic. (4) Never expose plastic containers to open flame or high-heat sources.
Read the original on the ministry's website →6 February 2026
According to the ministry, Turkish regulations prohibit the use of pork and pork-derived components in foods, food additives, enzymes and flavourings. The ban applies to both domestically produced and imported products and is enforced through official controls; imported foods are checked for compliance at the border. Substances such as L-cysteine produced from human hair or certain animal sources — debated in the past — are likewise not permitted for import or use as food additives.
Read the original on the ministry's website →23 December 2025
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reminded producers that plant protection products must be bought only from dealers holding an authorization certificate. Buying from licensed dealers is critical for correct use, traceability and a safe food chain. Producers are asked to check the dealer's certificate before purchase and to report unauthorized sellers to provincial and district agriculture directorates.
Read the original on the ministry's website →18 December 2025
The ministry shared safety advice on herbal teas, which are popular especially in winter: avoid mixed herbal teas with unclear content or unknown origin, follow the preparation instructions on the label, and remember that "natural" or "herbal" does not always mean safe. People on regular medication, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and children should consult a doctor first, and prolonged, high-volume consumption should be avoided.
Read the original on the ministry's website →2 December 2025
The ministry warned consumers not to trust products sold on social media with unfounded claims such as "slimming, weight-gaining, performance-boosting or height-increasing" effects. The ministry approves no such claims, and these products may contain pharmaceutical active substances that endanger health. Suspicious products can be reported to the ALO 174 Food Line or via the Güvenilir Gıda mobile app.
Read the original on the ministry's website →25 August 2025
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Health launched a pilot whole-wheat bread campaign in Konya to steer the public toward more fibrous, nutritious bread. Guiding target fibre values were set for whole-wheat flour and bread, to be monitored and reported by the provincial directorate. The resulting indicators are intended to serve as groundwork for future regulation.
Read the original on the ministry's website →8 August 2025
With an amendment to the regulation on official controls of food and feed, food retailers such as markets, butchers and greengrocers, and mass-consumption venues such as restaurants, cafés and canteens must display their establishment QR code where consumers can see it, as of 28 July 2025. Scanning the code shows the establishment's registration details. Businesses can generate their QR-code document at guvenilirgida.tarimorman.gov.tr.
Read the original on the ministry's website →10 July 2025
The Directorate General of Food and Control warned holidaymakers who take food to the beach against foodborne illness. The advice includes taking only as much food as will be eaten, carrying cold and hot foods separately, preserving the cold chain with ice packs and cooler bags, keeping the bag out of direct sunlight, and minding hand hygiene. Leftovers that cannot be stored at a proper temperature may pose a risk.
Read the original on the ministry's website →7 May 2025
Safe2Eat, the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) communication campaign to raise food-safety awareness, expanded to 23 countries in 2025, and Türkiye's Directorate General of Food and Control has joined it. Türkiye will run consumer-information activities on priority themes such as food additives, food allergens, foodborne diseases and label-reading habits.
Read the original on the ministry's website →News items are summarized in our own words from official sources; see the source link under each item for details.