The meatball seller Yusuf, who feeds citizens pork, is selling his products under the name "Halal Certificate."

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recently published a list of counterfeit and adulterated food products. Following the list, it was announced that pork was found in the products of a food company in Düzce. While the name of the restaurant was not disclosed, there were posts on social media implying that the company was Köfteci Yusuf. As the repercussions of the incident continue, T24 shared documents indicating that the mentioned company is Köfteci Yusuf.

IDENTIFIED MONTHS AGO

According to the inspection and analysis report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; pork was found in the beef döner and ready-to-eat cooked meatballs sampled on February 27 and March 7. In the examinations, no meat from single-hoofed or poultry animals was detected.

PORK FOUND IN BOTH PRODUCTS

Investigations were conducted by sampling cooked meatballs and beef döner. A sample of 300 grams was taken from the cooked meatballs, and 400 grams from the beef döner. According to the reports, pork was detected in both products.

WAS IT PREVENTED BY A COURT DECISION?

It was claimed that Köfteci Yusuf took action before the ministry to keep its name from being disclosed, bringing the matter to court and obtaining a stay of execution, thus preventing the company's name from being revealed in the counterfeit/adulteration list. However, no court decision regarding the matter has emerged.

THE COMPANY REMAINS SILENT

Our discussions with company officials at Haberler.com have been inconclusive. Köfteci Yusuf's lawyer, Ali Uslu, also stated that he had no information about the matter, could not make a statement, and could not respond to the allegations.

THEY SOLD PRODUCTS UNDER THE NAME "HALAL CERTIFICATE"

On the other hand, following the reports shared about the famous meatball seller, the 'Halal Certificate' on the company's website has become a topic of discussion. The explanations in the relevant section are as follows: "20% of the beef and lamb of certain breeds we use in our products comes from our own farm, 70% from contracted farmers and professional businesses, and 10% from large wholesalers we regularly purchase from. It is mandatory for our suppliers to use systems that ensure traceability by researching and tracking every stage of these animals from birth to slaughter for reliability.

The feeding programs during this process from birth to slaughter are prepared and implemented by our veterinarians, food engineers, and animal feeding and feed specialists. This process is essential for maintaining the standard and quality of the meat we desire. The conditions under which the animals arrive at the slaughterhouse before slaughter, the stress-free slaughter phase, and the halal slaughter are carried out in high-standard slaughterhouses supervised by provincial agriculture. The meat here is cooled to (+4) degrees overnight and then transported to our factory in Bursa Yenişehir with refrigerated trucks at (+4) degrees, and finally accepted for production after passing veterinary and laboratory control. We have our halal food certificate and document. Our institution is the first and pioneering organization in Turkey to be audited by the World Halal Union (WHU) and entitled to receive a HALAL certificate.

IS PORK CLASSIFIED AS SLAUGHTER MEAT?

The General Directorate of Food and Control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry stated that the claims of disinformation and manipulation regarding "pork being classified as slaughter meat" do not reflect the truth.

In the statement, it was noted, "The Turkish Food Codex Raw Red Meat and Prepared Red Meat Mixtures Regulation, which has been circulated on some social media accounts stating that 'pork has been classified as slaughter meat,' is not in effect. There is no definition, expression, or reference to pork in the currently effective Turkish Food Codex Meat, Prepared Meat Mixtures Regulation," it was stated.