(Private) Warning to Consumers about ‘Hidden Price Increases’ and ‘False Discounts’ in Food

Aydın Ağaoğlu, the President of the Consumer Confederation (TÜKONFED), warned about the “secret price hike” implemented by reducing the weights of food products and the deceptive campaigns that are presented as “discounts” by increasing and then lowering prices again.

Ağaoğlu shared that he purchased two 5-liter cans of olive oil some time ago, stating, “I bought them with money. One of those olive oils was 700 lira for 5 liters. The other one was 750 lira. It is impossible to find a 5-liter early harvest stone-pressed natural olive oil at this price. I know that. I bought both cans with money. One of the products I bought was listed among the adulterated products announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. I also took the other one to the Ministry’s Istanbul Provincial Laboratory. I paid to have it analyzed there as well. We will talk once I receive the results.”

The penalty for deceptive discounts can go up to 550 thousand lira.

Ağaoğlu emphasized that consumers are deceived by adulteration and imitation, and that large branded companies also deceive in other ways. He continued: “There are hidden price hikes along with weight games. They reduce the weight of packaged foods, but the package is the same and the price is the same. Consumers buy it thinking it’s the same price, but they don’t know they’re buying at an increased price. The Regulation on Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices contains a provision that states, ‘In the case of misleading packaging practices that create the impression that no change has been made, despite a change in one of the quantity, length, weight, area, volume measures, and similar elements that would differentiate the unit price of a good offered to consumers.’ According to this provision, those who deceive consumers with hidden price hikes can be fined up to 550 thousand lira.”

Ağaoğlu also drew attention to the issue of false discounts, stating: “I really haven’t been able to explain this to people enough. For a company to say it is making a discount, it must base it on the lowest price at which that product was sold in the last 30 days. In other words, if it was sold for 100 lira, it cannot apply a discount based on a price of 120 or 150 lira. It can apply a discount based on 100 lira. Consumers who notice this should report it to the Ministry of Commerce. You’re selling for 30 days back. If it was sold at 100 lira as the lowest, it can claim a discount if it is sold for less than 100 lira. For example, if it is sold for 90 lira, it can be said that a discount has been made. If it is determined that the discount is false, it will be subject to an administrative monetary penalty. Raising the price and then claiming a discount is a misleading practice for consumers and warrants a penalty.”

Ağaoğlu pointed out that it is not possible for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Commerce to monitor every product, stating that consumers have a significant role in inspections.

He mentioned that there are great conveniences regarding complaints, saying, “The rate of evaluation will also increase in 2025, but for this year, Consumer Arbitration Committees are authorized for disputes of up to 104 thousand lira. Even in issues related to mobile phones, washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators, solutions can be sought through this method without going to court regarding prices.”