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Food fraud investigations in Turkey

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-18 10:23 UTC → 2026-10-25 15:42 UTC · added removed

The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has identified widespread food fraud and adulteration across various sectors and regions. sectors. Initial inspections investigations revealed that 21 brands were involved in fraudulent practices, notably particularly in the olive oil industry where producers in regions like Hatay Hatay, Izmir, Aydın, and Izmir Balıkesir, where producers mixed cheap seed oils into products marketed as ‘natural extra virgin olive oil.’ Other Meat fraud remains a significant findings included the sale of horse or donkey meat as concern. In Mersin, Korkmaz Kasabı-Hadi Kaçan was found selling minced meat in Mersin, and the mislabeling of poultry containing single-hoofed animals like horses or donkeys, while Erçolak Gıda Hayvancılık Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi was caught mixing offal as beef or lamb into beef-lamb mince. In Bursa’s Osmangazi district, Acı Dayı Cantık Salonu was flagged for using single-ungulate meat in cities such raw cantık dough marketed as Istanbul and Bursa. The ministry also detected adulterated honey, foreign substances in saffron, beef. Other regions, including Ankara, Antalya, Konya, and Diyarbakır, reported the use of unauthorized chemical dyes in spices like sumac and red pepper. Additionally, some herbal pastes and detox teas were found to contain medicinal ingredients such as sildenafil and tadalafil. Subsequent investigations expanded to include dairy and meat products in Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, and Diyarbakır. In these regions, establishments were found using chicken, offal, or head meat in products marketed such as beef or lamb, including pide, lahmacun, and kebabs. Specifically, In the spice and confectionery sectors, authorities detected unauthorized chemical dyes in Bursa’s Osmangazi district, laboratory analysis confirmed sumac (notably the presence Değirmen Tarsus brand) and red pepper. As of single-ungulate meat late October 2026, laboratory inspections identified prohibited dyes in raw cantık dough marketed as beef. Further dairy-related several sausage spice brands, with Metinler Gıda ve Baharat Sanayi producing the most non-compliant batches, including Tomurcuk Baharat and Babasan products. Other flagged producers include Salih Sucukları, Atılım Et, and Spice Baba Gıda. Additional violations included include adulterated honey in Burdur and Antalya, buffalo yogurt in Istanbul containing cow milk, and the use of vegetable oils in cheese and butter, and or starch in yogurts and processed cheeses. Recent updates have expanded the scope of violations to include 29 specific food dairy products. In the confectionery sector, pistachio baklava from brands such as Fıstıksan Gıda Sanayi ve Dış Ticaret AŞ (Dilber Dudağı) Some herbal pastes and Arzu Pastanesi detox teas were flagged for containing sunflower seeds or unauthorized food coloring. Meat fraud has also extended to beef sausage (sucuk) brands found to contain poultry meat, head meat, medicinal ingredients like sildenafil and tongues. In the olive oil category, brands such as Ayvalık Doğal were identified as mixing seed oils into extra virgin products. tadalafil.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-25 15:42 UTC Food fraud investigations in Turkey
  2. 2026-10-18 10:23 UTC Food fraud investigations in Turkey
  3. 2026-10-17 08:00 UTC Food fraud investigations in Turkey
  4. 2026-10-02 08:38 UTC Food fraud investigations in Turkey
  5. 2026-09-25 03:37 UTC Food fraud investigations in Turkey

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