Label adjustment for vegan and vegetarian products.

```html

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has updated the guide regarding the rules that food businesses must comply with. In this context, the labeling of food will not be misleading in terms of the qualities of the food. The guide highlighted regulations regarding the use of foods aimed at vegans and vegetarians.

ANIMAL EXPRESSIONS AND VISUALS WILL NOT BE USED IN VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN FOODS

In the guide, since vegetarian and vegan diets are matters that adult individuals should decide on of their own free will, the advertising, presentation, promotion, and marketing of these foods cannot be done in a way that creates the perception of substituting animal-derived foods. Products intended for vegan diets, made entirely from plant-based ingredients without the use of milk and milk components, can be produced in a way that does not create the perception of cheese in their brand, name, or visuals.

On the labels of foods aimed at vegan consumers, expressions and visuals related to animal foods, as well as expressions and visuals that may evoke these expressions, cannot be used, including the name and brand. On the labels of foods aimed at vegetarian consumers, expressions and visuals related to red meat, poultry, fish, or animal foods not included in the content will not be present.

PROHIBITION OF EXPRESSIONS LIKE "MEAT FLAVOR" AND "CHICKEN TASTE"

In the naming of foods aimed at vegetarian and vegan consumers, in addition to the expressions plant-based, vegan, and vegetarian, terms and visuals such as meatball, sausage, salami, nugget, burger, grill can be used. Registered geographical indications or traditional product names related to foods containing animal-derived food components cannot be used on the labels of foods. Expressions such as "meat flavor" and "chicken taste," along with food names that are not permitted in the guide, cannot be used.

VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN PRODUCTS WILL BE CLEARLY INDICATED ON MENUS

In places of collective consumption, statements such as "suitable for vegetarians/vegans" regarding ready-to-eat non-packaged foods aimed at vegetarian and vegan consumers will be presented to the end consumer through menus, boards, brochures, QR codes, digital screens, etc., in a way that is easily visible and clearly readable.

NO VISUALS LIKE MILK, CHURN, OR BUCKET ON MARGARINE LABELS

The brand, name, expressions, terms, and visuals on the food label will 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, or jug that evoke butter cannot be used on margarine labels. In plant oils, except for olive oil, visuals of olives or olive trees that evoke olive oil or expressions like "olive oil flavor/taste" cannot be included.

INSTEAD OF "WITH CHEESE," IT WILL BE "CHEESE FLAVORED"

In a food where only aroma is used, the perception of "the food itself being used by referring to the food whose aroma is intended" cannot be created. In a cake where only cheese aroma is used without the actual cheese, the expression "with cheese" cannot be used; in this case, the expression "cheese flavored" will be used. On the labels of edible ice mixture foods, visuals of cows, sheep, etc., will not be included, except for milk ice and plant oil-based milk ice. The expressions on the labels of edible ice products will not create the perception that the product is ice cream.

EXPRESSIONS LIKE "VILLAGE, FARM, 100%" WILL NOT BE USED IN DAIRY PRODUCTS

The expression "homemade" cannot be used for foods produced on an industrial scale. The expression "homemade taste" can be used as it is left to consumer preference. On the labels of milk and dairy products, expressions like "village," "home," "traditional," "farm," and "100%" cannot be included. In fermented dairy products, expressions like "100%" cannot be included. In foods that may be confused with similar foods available in the market and consist of a single component, the expression can be used. When it comes to coffee blends being perceived as coffee, the expression "100% coffee" can be used for products that do not contain any components other than coffee.

THE EXPRESSION "YOGURT KEBAB" WILL BE USED

If yogurt is served alongside kebab, the consumer will be informed as "yogurt kebab." If served with another fermented dairy product other than yogurt, the name of the served fermented dairy product will be written instead of yogurt, presented to the consumer as "... kebab."

DECEMBER 31, 2026 DEADLINE

Food operators will be obliged to comply with the new provisions introduced by the guide by December 31, 2026. After this date, products that do not comply with the introduced provisions will not be available in the market.