Turkey Ministry of Agriculture exposes food fraud in multiple provinces

The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has released updated lists of food products found to contain fraudulent or deceptive ingredients. Recent inspections across various provinces have revealed significant irregularities in meat and dairy products.

In several regions, including Mersin, Kırklareli, Bursa, and Kayseri, inspectors identified the presence of ungulate meat (such as horse or donkey) in products labeled as beef, including minced meat, sausages, and tantuni. In Sakarya, a brand of beef sausage was found to contain pork, leading to the destruction of 2.6 tons of product and the closure of the involved business.

Beyond meat, the ministry reported various other violations. In Kahramanmaraş, poultry meat was found in beef products, and unauthorized dyes were detected in red pepper powder. Dairy inspections in provinces like Elazığ and Malatya revealed issues such as low fat content in cheeses and the presence of vegetable oils in butter and yogurt. Additionally, some olive oils were found to be adulterated with seed oils.

The ministry continues to conduct nationwide inspections to ensure food safety and has urged consumers to use the ‘Güvenilir Gıda’ portal and the ‘ALO 174’ food line to report suspicious products.