Advertising Board imposes administrative fine on 'Gıda Dedektifi' account

The Advertising Board has decided to impose an administrative fine of 550 thousand 59 liras on Musa Özsoy, the founder of the "Gıda Dedektifi" account, on the grounds that he disseminated misleading information online.

The Board initiated an investigation into the promotions on the website "http://www.gidadedektifi.com.tr/", which belongs to Musa Özsoy, following a complaint.

During the investigation, it was determined that the promotion for the product named "Züber Original Peanut Butter" on the website included the statements: "The consumption of fiber found in the product in exchange for carbohydrates will have effects such as preventing blood sugar from rising suddenly and providing satiety for a longer period. The product contains fat naturally derived from peanuts and a high rate of protein."

It was determined that although the product's packaging included the phrase "Natural protein source," the website used the phrase "The product contains fat naturally derived from peanuts and a high rate of protein." However, according to regulations, in order to make a "high protein" claim, at least 20 percent of the food's energy value must be provided by protein, and the product, with its 22 grams of protein, did not meet the declaration conditions stipulated in the legislation.

It was evaluated that the expressions in the promotions subject to the investigation went beyond the health claims permitted by legislation, and that these promotions were misleading to consumers and constituted a violation of fair competition principles.

It was determined that the promotions subject to the investigation were in violation of the relevant provisions of the laws on Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed, and Consumer Protection, as well as the regulations on the Use of Health Claims in Food and Supplements, Veterinary Services, the Turkish Food Codex Food Labeling and Consumer Information, and Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices.

Following the investigations, the Advertising Board decided to impose an administrative fine of 550 thousand 59 liras and a suspension of advertising on Musa Özsoy, the founder of the "Gıda Dedektifi" account, in accordance with the Law on Consumer Protection, on the grounds that he "disseminated misleading information online under the guise of protecting consumer rights."