Changes Have Been Made in the Turkish Food Codex Drinking Milk Communiqué

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that significant changes have been made to the Turkish Food Codex Drinking Milk Communiqué in order to ensure food safety, prevent misleading the consumer and prevent unfair competition between food businesses.

In his statement, Minister Yumaklı stated that the amendment to the Turkish Food Codex Drinking Milk Communiqué came into force after being published in the Official Gazette.

Stating that the definition of 'milk-based beverage' was removed from the Communiqué with the regulation, Yumaklı gave the following information:

"Milk-based beverage was defined as 'a beverage containing at least fifty percent of drinking milk in the final product in terms of quantity'. However, there is no product called milk-based beverage on the market. Products that are put on the market containing milk are defined as either flavored/flavored drinking milk or a beverage containing milk. For this reason, we removed the definition from the Communiqué. In order to prevent misleading consumers, we have also made a significant change regarding the fattiness classification of drinking milk. Previously, the fattiness classification was full-fat, semi-fat, fat-free. "With the new Communiqué, the fat classification of drinking milk has been made more understandable for consumers. Apart from this classification, fat classification in drinking milk is prohibited. Thus, drinking milk will not be offered to the market with very different fat contents that may mislead the consumer."

REGULATION OF CONDITIONS AND SUGAR RATIOS

Yumaklı also emphasized that for the first time, a lower limit was introduced for the total amount of seasoning to be used in flavored drinking milk, to be at least 1 percent by mass. Underlining that for the first time, the amount of sugar that can be added to drinking milk has been limited to a maximum of 5 percent by mass and the total sugar rate of the product to 9.5 percent, Yumaklı said:

"The 'sugar' to be added to drinking milk is limited to semi-white sugar, white sugar and extra white sugar as defined in the Turkish Food Codex Sugar Communiqué. Addition of sugar derivatives such as glucose and fructose syrup, other than sucrose, in drinking milk is now prohibited. A regulation has been made to use only 'natural flavourings' as flavoring substances in drinking milk.

Additionally, a regulation was made regarding the use of the term 'natural' in drinking milk. Accordingly; The expression "natural" can only be used in full-fat and fatty drinking milk. Drinking milk, where the expression "natural" will be used, may contain additives, condiments, flavorings, etc. will not contain any additional ingredients. The term 'natural' cannot be used in lactose-free or lactose-reduced drinking milk. I hope that our new regulations will be beneficial and auspicious for our consumers and our industry. "Our work continues uninterruptedly to ensure food safety, prevent our consumers from being misled, and prevent unfair competition between food businesses."

Food businesses operating before the publication of the circular will comply with the new regulation until March 31, 2027.