After 1 week, all menus in cafes and restaurants will change

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry made changes to the consumer information regulation in order to increase transparency in food consumption.

With this change, all nutritional values, calorie amounts and ingredient details of the food and drinks offered to customers in cafes and restaurants will be clearly shared. The application aims to ensure that consumers consume food consciously, in accordance with public health standards.

WHAT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE MENUS?

Within the scope of the new regulation, businesses will be obliged to include the following details about the foods they offer to consumers in their menus:

-The basic components and raw materials of the product,

-Amount of energy (calories),

-Allergenic substance contents,

-Statements about whether it contains alcohol or pork-derived ingredients.

HOW WILL THE INFORMATION METHODS AND QR CODES BE USED?

Businesses will be able to present mandatory information in different formats that customers can easily access. In this regard, classical printed menus, whiteboards, brochures or digital screens can be used.

Venues that will switch to the QR code system by opting for technological infrastructure will need to clearly guide customers on the use of the system on the menu.

GRADED TRANSITION SCHEDULE FOR BUSINESSES

The Ministry has published a gradual calendar according to business scales so that the sector can adapt to the new system. According to the determined calendar, the adaptation processes were limited to the following dates:

-The final compliance date for national chain restaurants was determined as July 1, 2026.

-Businesses with 3 or more branches in the same province must complete the transition by December 31, 2026.

All other businesses are required to integrate ingredient notifications into the system by December 31, 2026, and calorie notifications by December 31, 2027.