Turkey Records 3 Million Calls and 800,000 Complaints Against Non-Compliant Restaurants

The 'Food Complaint Hotline' in Turkey has set a record since its launch, after the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced receiving over 3.2 million calls, including about 800,000 complaints related to food violations in restaurants and companies, resulting in imposing more than 76,000 punitive measures on establishments violating food safety standards.

The hotline, which started at the beginning of 2009 as part of the 'Reliable Food _ Healthy Life' campaign, revolutionized food control mechanisms in Turkey, allowing consumers to easily report any food violations, whether by phone or through the website, in accordance with legislation that aligns with international standards.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, this service is based on the principle that 'the best monitor is the consumer themselves'.

Complaints received are evaluated in 81 Turkish provinces, and each report is recorded in an electronic system that allows tracking the complaint status, with consumers receiving notifications via text messages about the processing outcome.

As of March 3, 2025, a total of 3,212,019 calls have been registered, including 1,141,157 complaints related to food, of which 796,382 complaints have been verified, leading to imposing 76,877 punitive measures on companies and establishments in violation.

Meat and its products topped the list of most complained-about items, followed by grains and flour, then ready meal preparation facilities.

In terms of geographical distribution, Istanbul led with 203,050 reports, followed by Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya.

Registered complaints cover a wide range of violations, including:

_ Presence of foreign objects in products.

_ Shortage or misrepresentation of food information.

_ Sale of expired products.

_ Food poisoning.

_ Health violations in production and sales locations.

_ Unlawful business practices.

The ministry also launched a smart application for submitting complaints via mobile phones, and added visual services for the hearing impaired, including a sign language interpreter.

It emphasizes that citizens' data remains confidential and is not shared with any party, aiming to resolve most complaints within a period not exceeding 15 days.

This campaign confirms that consumer control has become an effective tool to ensure the quality and safety of food in Turkey, at a time when awareness of the importance of healthy food and control over what is offered in markets and restaurants is increasing.