Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has uncovered new food safety violations after laboratory tests detected horse and donkey meat in several products sold on the market, including sausage products from well-known brands.
According to Turkish media reports, the ministry added the offending products to its updated list of adulterated foods. The list included five types of sausage found to contain what authorities describe as “hoofed animal meat,” a category that includes horse, donkey and mule meat.
The violations were not limited to sausages. Laboratory tests also detected hoofed animal meat in other food products across several Turkish provinces, including minced meat and tantuni dishes in Mersin, as well as raw meat filling used in cig kofte in Manisa.
In a separate incident in Mersin province, inspections detected active pharmaceutical substances in a product containing epimedium, prompting warnings over its potential impact on public health.
Turkish authorities are continuing inspection campaigns and laboratory testing of food products and businesses operating in the sector. The results of violations are being published on public lists to warn consumers and curb food fraud.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said administrative and judicial measures would be taken against businesses found in violation, stressing that inspections would continue across provinces and districts.
