Allergen and Calorie Information on Menus in Türkiye: Who Must Comply, When and How?

• •National chain restaurants (large multi-branch brands): the obligation started on 1 July 2026 — inspections are under way.
• •Smaller businesses: phased transition; obligations come into force in stages throughout 2026 and 2027.
• •Calorie (energy) disclosure: must be completed across the whole scope by 31 December 2027 at the latest.

The allergen list of the Türk Gıda Kodeksi (Turkish Food Codex) is aligned with the EU regulation (1169/2011). For each product on the menu, it must be stated which of the following 14 groups it contains:

• •Cereals containing gluten (wheat, barley, rye, oats)
• •Crustaceans (shrimp, crab, etc.)
• •Eggs
• •Fish
• •Peanuts
• •Soy
• •Milk and dairy products (including lactose)
• •Tree nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, etc.)
• •Celery
• •Mustard
• •Sesame
• •Sulphur dioxide and sulphites (above a certain threshold)
• •Lupin
• •Molluscs (mussels, squid, etc.)

In addition, it must be clearly declared whether the product contains alcohol and whether it contains pork-derived ingredients (including gelatine).

1. 1Write out a recipe for every product: list all raw materials and semi-finished products used (including sauces and garnishes — allergens most often hide in sauces).
2. 2Add the allergen declarations on the labels of supplier products (ready-made sauces, bakery products, charcuterie) to the recipe.
3. 3Match each product against the 14 allergen groups; note "may contain" (cross-contamination) cases separately.
4. 4Fix the portion weight and calculate the calorie value, or obtain a portion analysis from a food engineer.
5. 5Show it on the menu: a symbol set + footnote is the most readable method. In a QR-code digital menu, the full list can be given in the product detail — the regulation accepts the QR code as a presentation method.
6. 6Train your staff: every employee should be able to correctly answer the question "does this contain peanuts?".

Inspections are carried out by food inspectors of the provincial/district directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Missing or incorrect allergen disclosure is subject to administrative sanctions under Law No. 5996 on Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed. An incorrect declaration also brings legal liability in the event of an allergic incident — which is why the principle is not "if in doubt, write that it contains it" but "get the recipe right".