1,000 TL soup had become a hot topic: Penalties loom for the business

A bowl of soup sold for 1,000 TL at a hotel restaurant in Uludağ, one of the most important centers for winter tourism where ski enthusiasts flock every year, has become a hot topic.

Following reports that the soup, which was sold for 500 TL last season and became a subject of discussion on social media, would be sold for 1,000 TL this season, the Ministry of Trade launched an investigation. Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan stated in a post on his X account that an inspection was carried out at the business in question today by the Bursa Provincial Directorate of Trade, and that an unfair price increase was detected regarding the soup offered for sale at 1,000 TL per bowl.

‘PENALTY OF UP TO 1 MILLION TL MAY BE IMPOSED’

The statement, which noted that the business could face a penalty of up to 1 million TL, included the following remarks:

“Following reports in the press and on social media channels on 20.11.2024 regarding a bowl of soup sold for 500 TL last year being sold for 1,000 TL this year at a business operating under the title T.S.T. A.Ş in the Bursa Uludağ Hotel Zone, an inspection was carried out at the business in question by our Bursa Provincial Directorate of Trade on 21.11.2024. During the inspection, it was determined that the price of the soup in question was examined within the scope of the ‘Law on the Regulation of Retail Trade No. 6585 and the Regulation on the Unfair Price Evaluation Board’ and that an unfair price increase was detected. Therefore, the report prepared within the scope of the unfair price increase will be sent to the Unfair Price Evaluation Board along with the defense and attachments of the business officials, and a penalty of up to 1,000,000 TL may be imposed.”

78 VIOLATIONS DETECTED, 171 THOUSAND 600 TL ADMINISTRATIVE FINE

In his statement, Deputy Minister Gürcan also noted that violations were detected regarding 38 products offered for sale at the business, stating: “In the inspections carried out within the scope of the ‘Law on the Protection of the Consumer No. 6502’ and the ‘Price Tag Regulation,’ the following issues were detected:

The distinguishing features of 38 products offered for sale at the business were not specified. Due to the absence of this information both at the entrance and inside the business, 76 violations were detected.

The product sales price, including all taxes, and the date on which this price began to be applied were not specified on the price lists.

For these reasons, separate from the exorbitant pricing, a total of 78 violations were detected by our Bursa Provincial Directorate of Trade, and a total administrative fine of 171 thousand 600 TL will be imposed on the business due to these violations. As the Ministry of Trade, we will continue our work without slowing down in order to prevent the victimization of our consumers and to protect market balance. Respectfully announced to the public,” he stated.

News Source: 12punto