Following the heartbreaking death of the Böcek family, who came to Istanbul from Germany and lost their lives due to suspected food poisoning, authorities in Istanbul have introduced sweeping new measures to strengthen food safety. One of the most notable decisions: all businesses must now record uninterrupted audio and video footage 24 hours a day and store the recordings for 30 days.
The investigation into the deadly incident at a hotel in Istanbul’s Fatih district is ongoing. With the death of the last surviving family member, father Servet Böcek, none of the four visiting family members survived.
Istanbul Holds an Emergency “Food Safety” Meeting
As Turkey continues to discuss the poisoning tragedy, city officials convened to evaluate new strategies for ensuring access to safe food and protecting public health. The meeting, chaired by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, focused on inspections, preventive actions, and regulatory measures related to food safety across the city.
Governor Davut Gül: “Zero Tolerance in Food Safety”
Governor Gül expressed deep sorrow for the lives lost and emphasized the city’s determination to prevent such incidents:
“We are here to prevent similar food poisoning cases from happening again. Sadly, four of our citizens lost their lives. May they rest in peace. We gathered today to ensure this never happens again,” he said.
Gül highlighted that 196,000 inspections had already been carried out in the first ten months of 2025, stressing the importance of trained personnel, informed business owners, and conscious consumers.
He added that public safety goes far beyond basic security: “We’re not only talking about policing. Health and food safety are part of this responsibility. We must enforce current regulations without interruption. In any area that concerns citizens—especially food—we have zero tolerance.”
Citizens Will Be Able to Check Inspection Dates
Governor Gül also announced that residents will soon be able to scan a QR code displayed at businesses to see the most recent food safety inspection date.
Key Decisions on Food Safety in Istanbul
At the meeting, several strong measures were adopted to improve supervision and protect consumers:
- Inspections of street vendors and business owners across Istanbul will be intensified.
- The requirement for businesses to store “sold food samples for 72 hours” will be strictly enforced.
- Cold chain standards must be met without exception; violations will not be tolerated by local authorities and inspection teams.
- Food Inspection Commissions will be established citywide to conduct round-the-clock inspections.
- Business owners and employees will undergo mandatory food safety and hygiene training, with administrative penalties for non-compliance.
- All businesses are now required to maintain 24/7 audio and video surveillance, with recordings kept for 30 days.
- Pest control companies will be strictly inspected, and those failing to meet standards will face administrative and legal action.
- Businesses found selling spoiled or expired products will face administrative penalties and criminal complaints.
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