The ministry has started an investigation into the 1000 lira soup! A million-lira fine may be imposed.

Last year, a bowl of soup sold for 500 lira at a hotel in Uludağ is now being served for 1000 lira in the new season, prompting action from the Ministry of Trade. Following the news that the soup, which was sold for 500 TL last season and became a topic of discussion on social media, will be sold for 1000 TL this season, the Ministry of Trade has initiated an investigation.

Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan stated on his Twitter account that an inspection was conducted today by the Bursa Provincial Directorate of Trade at the mentioned establishment, and it was determined that there was an unfair price increase regarding the soup that will be offered for sale at 1000 TL.

"PENALTY ACTIONS OF UP TO 1 MILLION TL CAN BE TAKEN"

In the statement, it was noted that a penalty action of up to 1 million TL could be imposed on the establishment, and the following expressions were included:

"On 20.11.2024, following news in the press and social media regarding a bowl of soup sold for 500 TL last year at the establishment named T.S.T. A.Ş operating in the Bursa Uludağ Hotels Region, which is now being sold for 1,000 TL, an inspection was carried out by our Bursa Provincial Directorate of Trade on 21.11.2024. During the inspection, it was determined that the price of the soup in question was examined under the 'Law No. 6585 on the Regulation of Retail Trade and the Regulation of the Unfair Price Assessment Board' and that an unfair price increase was detected. Therefore, the report prepared regarding the unfair price increase, along with the defense of the establishment's officials and its annexes, will be sent to the Unfair Price Assessment Board, and a penalty action of up to 1,000,000 TL may be taken."

78 VIOLATIONS DETECTED

Deputy Minister Gürcan stated that violations were also detected regarding 38 products offered for sale at the establishment, and in his statement, he noted, "The following issues were identified during inspections conducted under the 'Law No. 6502 on the Protection of Consumers' and the 'Price Tag Regulation':

* The distinguishing features of the 38 products offered for sale at the establishment were not specified. Due to the absence of this deficiency both at the entrance and inside the establishment, 76 violations were detected.

* In the price lists, the product sales price including all taxes and the date on which this price came into effect were not specified.

For these reasons, in addition to the exorbitant price, a total of 78 violations have been detected by our Bursa Provincial Directorate of Trade, and a total administrative fine of 171,600 TL will be imposed on the establishment due to these violations. As the Ministry of Trade, we will continue our efforts without slowing down to prevent consumer grievances and maintain market balance. It is respectfully announced to the public," the statement included.

"MADE WITH MUSHROOMS COLLECTED BY LOCAL PEOPLE"

The establishment manager Süleyman Güngör stated that the soup is not prepared like other soups, is cooked upon order, and is personalized. He pointed out that the soup contains three different types of wild mushrooms, which can cost up to 6,000 lira per kilogram, and said, "Our soup is still on our menu, and we will continue to provide the same service this season. The soup contains varieties of mushrooms that grow in the forests here. There are also walnuts. We make our soup with mushrooms collected by the local people here. After going through a few processes, it is served to us in this way. Some of the mushrooms are unique to this area, while there are also mushrooms that can be found in other areas," he explained. Stating that the bowl of wild mushroom soup will be served for 1,000 lira this season, Güngör commented on the 1,000 lira soup: "The soup had a huge boom last season. Our soup was already on our menu. The price was highlighted in an exaggerated way, not its taste. We would have preferred the taste to be highlighted, and the presentation to be emphasized. It is a special soup, unique to this place. Unfortunately, the price has been more in the foreground. This year, we will serve our soup for 1,000 lira."