Istanbul authorities have announced a package of new measures to strengthen food safety and controls in cafes and restaurants following the deaths of four members of a family and the poisoning of a 26-year-old girl: two episodes that have rekindled public concern about hygiene and supervision of food businesses in the Turkish metropolis.
Turkish media reported that during the Food Safety Meeting held at the Istanbul Governor’s Office, eight key measures were approved, the governor himself later confirmed in a statement. One of the most important of these is that all establishments involved in the sale or production of food must perform 24-hour audio and video recordings, which must also be kept for 30 days to ensure traceability for future investigations.
In addition, both owners and employees will be obliged to receive training in food safety and hygiene in order to correct faults in the handling of food. The existing obligation to retain samples of products sold for 72 hours will also be reinforced. Controls on street vendors and formal premises – including restaurants and cafés – will also be stepped up.
“Four of our citizens have tragically lost their lives. I pray that God has mercy on them. We are here to prevent similar incidents from happening again,” said Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, who chaired the meeting. “In 2025, the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Directorate carried out 196,000 inspections over 10 months. Health and food safety are part of public safety. We must implement the existing legislation without interruption. We have zero tolerance in everything related to our citizens,” added the governor, who also reminded that users can easily check the date of the last inspection through the QR code available in the shops.
Latest poisonings: a family of four dead and a woman in serious condition
The first serious case of food poisoning recently detected in Istanbul occurred on 12 November, when the Böcek family – coming from Germany and staying in a hotel in the historic centre of the city – fell ill with suspected food poisoning: all four members of the family died, including two children aged 3 and 6. The investigation has since focused on the hotel itself, however, and the most likely hypothesis now being advanced is that chemicals used in the fumigation of the building may have caused the deaths. Authorities suspect that the chemicals may have found their way into the room through the ventilation system in the bathroom.
The second incident involving food poisoning involved a young woman who suffered severe internal chemical burns after drinking a coffee in a café in Beyoğlu. According to the investigation, the drink was mistakenly prepared with industrial dishwasher detergent instead of water. The woman was taken to ICU with damage to her throat, stomach and lungs, and two people – an owner of the café and the person who prepared the coffee – have been arrested.
Additional control measures adopted in Istanbul
Decisions taken to strengthen food control in cafes and restaurants include:
- Increased inspections of street food vendors and business owners.
- Strict enforcement of the obligation to keep food samples for 72 hours.
- Zero tolerance for cold chain failures in businesses producing or selling food.
- Establishment of food inspection committees throughout the province, with 24-hour operational controls.
- Mandatory hygiene and safety training for owners and employees; violations will result in administrative sanctions.
- Mandatory implementation of continuous audio and video recording in food premises, with storage for 30 days.
- Increased supervision and inspections of fumigation companies and administrative or judicial sanctions in case of non-compliance.
- Administrative sanctions and criminal charges for establishments selling expired or damaged products.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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