27.02.2025 16:04
Industry executives argued that the product sold as one in a thousand fatty milk could be harmful to human health and is actually suitable for irrigation purposes. Producers requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to remove these products from the shelves.
The Vice President of the Turkish Milk Producers Central Union, Cihat Şimşek, claimed that the product sold in the market as 0.1% fat milk is actually not milk. Stating that the product, which resembles milk in color, can be used for irrigation purposes, President Şimşek expressed that the 0.1% fat milk could also harm human health over time while listing his reasons, and he requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to remove these products (0.1% fat milk) from the shelves on behalf of the producers.
"THERE IS NO FAT IN IT, IT IS USED FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES"
In addition to his title as the Vice President of the Turkish Milk Producers Central Union, Cihat Şimşek, who is also the President of the Balıkesir Altıeylül and Karesi Milk Producers Union, reacted to the 0.1% fat milk that has been placed on the shelves since November. 'You cannot make cheese from this milk, you cannot make yogurt. There is no fat in it. It is used for irrigation purposes,' said President Şimşek, making strong statements, claiming that the 0.1% fat milk, from which the fat has been removed, is also harmful to human health.
"WHY DO THEY OFFER PRODUCTS NOT PURCHASED FROM PRODUCERS TO CONSUMERS?"
Şimşek stated, "We all shop and visit markets. Milk is a part of our lives. While we, as producers, struggle to sell the milk we produce, industrialists impose penalties on milk that is analyzed to be below 3.6% fat, while leaving 3.2% milk in the hands of farmers without purchasing it. However, we see many brands of milk labeled as 3.1% fat, 3.2% fat, or full-fat in the markets. If you are not buying from producers, why are you offering this product to consumers? The most important component in milk is fat. The real danger starts here. When purchasing milk, industrialists provide premiums, and these premiums are given based on the fat content of the milk."
"0.1% FAT MILK HAS EMERGED"
"However, since November 15, 0.1% fat milk has emerged in the markets. 0.1% fat means zero fat. By stating that they have extracted the fat, they are declaring it as such. The price is also lower compared to others. Everything in our country is shaped according to purchasing power. Since everything is labeled as milk, citizens prefer the product with a lower price without looking at the fat content. This will eventually become a habit for our people, and when they consume real milk, their bodies will not be able to digest it, and problems will arise. We demand that the relevant authorities remove this low-quality product, which is somewhat like water and resembles milk, from the shelves," he said.
"THEY HAVE EXTRACTED ALL THE FAT FROM THE MILK"
President Şimşek continued his remarks: "When we ask, milk production in Turkey appears to be very high. For this reason, the state is making regulatory purchases. While the daily stock costs related to converting 2,000 tons of milk into milk powder are also borne; on the other hand, the industrialist continues to sell water as milk by extracting the fat from the milk, which causes the economic burden of unsold milk. Many of our local industrialists have stated that there is a butter shortage in Europe during these times, and that there is no such situation in Turkey. Of course, there won't be, if they extract all the fat from the milk and present it as 0.1% fat milk, the industrialist will not face a butter shortage. Since real milk does not reach the consumer, milk appears to be abundant in our country. Similar half-fat butters have also started to emerge in the market. What does this mean, friends? Butter is butter. There is no such thing as half-fat or a different version of it."
"LET THESE COMPANIES BE CLOSED"
President Şimşek emphasized that they find it appropriate for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to expose companies that engage in adulteration and fraud in production, but added that it is not enough. Şimşek said, "Our request from the Ministry is that if companies that are listed twice enter the list for the third time, these companies should be closed. They should not continue to play with human health. Because they are playing with the health of consumers as well as the future of producers," he said.
In response to the question from İHA reporter, "You do not call 0.1% fat milk milk, so what is it?" Şimşek replied, "People make yogurt and cheese from milk. For example, if the fat content of the milk is good, you can make cheese from 6 kilograms of milk; you cannot make it from this milk because there is no fat in it. Why are people showing interest in buffalo milk lately, why are they showing interest in jersey milk? It is entirely related to the fat content," he said.