Authorities in Türkiye on Tuesday launched an investigation into 25 companies over alleged violations of production quotas and domestic sales restrictions for starch-based sugar, with 47 suspects summoned to give statements.
Türkiye regulates its sugar industry under Sugar Law No. 4634, which establishes production and domestic-market quotas for different types of sugar, including starch-based sweeteners. The system is intended to regulate supply and maintain stability in the domestic sugar market.
The investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, focuses on manufacturers, wholesalers and users of starch-based sugar that operated between 2022 and 2024.
Authorities allege that some companies exceeded legally established quotas and domestic sales limits and placed starch-based sugar products on the market through intermediary firms.
Investigators also allege that some products were invoiced under different names, including maltodextrin, glucose, starch and fructose, in an effort to conceal their actual nature.
Search and seizure operations were carried out across eight provinces of Türkiye, including Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Ankara, Konya, Izmir, Gaziantep and Adana.
The investigation reportedly includes companies such as Ak Nişasta, Aktaşlar Et Gıda ve Hayvancılık, Anadolu Gıda, Artı Endüstriyel Gıda, Beşan Nişasta Gıda, Beylerbeyi Lokum Gıda, Emelce Gıda Tarım Inşaat, Gaziantep Pazarlama, GSF Gıda Sanayi Fabrikaları Üretim, Hasal Tarım Ürünleri, Hastürk Gıda Otomotiv İnşaat Emlak, Karamehmetler Gıda ve İhtiyaç Maddeleri, and Kervan Gıda.
Authorities said they identified extensive commercial relationships between manufacturers and wholesale or intermediary companies, as well as potential discrepancies between the products listed on invoices and those allegedly delivered.
They said the alleged practices could have resulted in unregistered sales, misleading documentation, tax losses and the manipulation of market prices, while also potentially posing risks to public health.
The investigation was launched following findings by relevant authorities into the production, trade and use of starch-based sugar. Authorities are examining whether companies produced or sold quantities exceeding legal limits and whether products were deliberately misclassified in commercial documents.
Starch-based sugars are sweeteners derived from starch, commonly corn, and are used in a range of processed foods and beverages.
Prosecutors are investigating the suspects over alleged offenses including the trade of spoiled or adulterated food or medicines, tax evasion, issuing or using misleading documents, forgery of private documents and manipulating prices.
Authorities also cited concerns over excessive consumption of high-fructose products, particularly among children, in connection with potential health risks including obesity and hypertension.
Statements from 47 suspects, including individuals linked to companies under investigation, have begun to be taken, while the investigation remains ongoing.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek also commented on the investigation in a post on his NSosyal account, saying that Türkiye would continue to firmly pursue all illegal activities targeting public health, state tax revenues and the economic order under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Gürlek said coordination among the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry, Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, and Treasury and Finance Ministry, along with other relevant institutions, was a key strength in combating multifaceted crimes.
He said the alleged practices affected public health, consumer confidence and market stability.
