Turkey adds 29 products, including sucuk and minced meat, to counterfeit food list

Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has updated its public list of counterfeit and adulterated food products, adding 29 new items that pose a risk to consumer health. The ministry maintains the list on the website 'guvenilirgida.tarimorman.gov.tr' under the headings 'Foods That Will Endanger Health' and 'Counterfeit and Adulterated Foods.'

The latest additions include popular products like sucuk (a type of sausage), pekmez (grape molasses), minced meat, and olive oil. One brand was found to have sold 'heat-treated beef sucuk' that actually contained poultry and offal. Another incident involved a firm in Diyarbakır's Yenişehir district, whose 'kavurma' (a meat dish) was found to contain offal and horse meat.

This initiative by the ministry aims to enhance transparency in the food market and protect consumers from fraudulent practices. By publicly naming and shaming companies that engage in imitation and adulteration, the ministry seeks to hold them accountable and encourage adherence to food safety standards.