22 January 2026

Food supplements are not medicines: ministry advice on informed use

Türkiye's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry defines food supplements as products intended to supplement the normal diet, containing concentrated vitamins, minerals or other substances with a nutritional effect. They are not an alternative to an adequate and balanced diet, and most people can obtain the nutrients they need from normal eating habits. It is prohibited to market supplements as if they made people lose or gain weight, increased height, boosted sexual performance, helped quit smoking, or prevented, treated or cured diseases. Sold as tablets, capsules, lozenges, powders and liquids, these products must be used according to the instructions and warnings on the label, without exceeding the recommended daily dose. Whether a product is approved can be checked from the “Approved Food Supplements List” section at ggbs.tarim.gov.tr.