In packaged food, visual deception cannot be done.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has updated the 'Turkish Food Codex Food Labeling and Consumer Information Regulation Guide', which includes the rules that food businesses must comply with.

The brand, name, expression, terms, and visuals on the food label must not evoke another product group in terms of the food's nature, identity, characteristics, composition, quantity, durability, country of origin, and production method. For example, visuals such as milk, churn, bucket, and jug that evoke butter cannot be used on margarine labels. Except for olive oil, visuals of olives or olive trees or expressions like 'olive oil flavor/taste' cannot be included in vegetable oils that evoke olive oil.

All characters in the name or trade title of the food business will be written in the same font size. In a cake where only cheese flavor is used without the cheese itself, the expression 'with cheese' cannot be used; instead, the expression 'with cheese flavor' will be included. Visuals of cows, sheep, etc., will not be included on the labels of food products containing edible ice mixtures, except for milk ice and vegetable oil milk ice. The expression 'homemade' cannot be used for industrially produced foods.

On the labels of milk and dairy products, expressions such as 'village', 'home', 'traditional', 'farm', and '100%' cannot be included. When it comes to coffee blends being perceived as coffee, the expression '100% coffee' can be included in products that do not contain any components other than coffee.

According to a news report by Türkiye Gazetesi, the expression 'with peanuts' will be used in baklava produced with peanuts, and only the expression 'with nuts' will not be included. If yogurt is served with kebab, it will be communicated to the consumer as "kebab with yogurt." Food businesses will be obliged to comply with the new provisions introduced by the guide until December 31, 2026. After this date, products that do not comply with the introduced provisions will not be available in the market.

VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN PRODUCTS WILL BE CLEARLY INDICATED ON THE MENU

The guide drew attention to regulations regarding the use of the terms 'vegetarian/vegan'. The advertising, presentation, promotion, and marketing of vegetarian and vegan foods cannot be done in a way that creates the perception of substituting animal-derived foods. In places of mass consumption, statements such as 'suitable for vegetarians/vegans' will be presented through menus, brochures, QR codes, digital screens, and similar tools.