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A grocery store owner in Türkiye’s Hatay province is facing a possible fine of up to ₺17.2 million ($415,626) after posting a video that misrepresented cooking oil prices and went viral on social media, the Trade Ministry said.
The controversy began when the shop owner claimed in a video that a five-liter bottle of cooking oil purchased for ₺150 ($3.62) was being sold for ₺450, allegedly yielding a 200% profit.
The footage spread widely on Turkish social media, sparking public anger.
To clarify the case, Deputy Trade Minister Mahmut Gurcan stated that the price of ₺150 referred to 2023 levels and had no link to 2025 costs, adding that the actual wholesale purchase price at the time of inspection was about ₺351.
The owner also admitted that the recording was intended as humor and was not factual.
Prosecutors have also opened a case under the Turkish Penal Code, which bans the public dissemination of misleading information.
The grocer was detained and referred to prosecutors for further proceedings.
Authorities are also pursuing penalties against four popular social media accounts that shared the video without verification, which could face fines ranging from ₺850,000 ($20,539) to ₺8.5 million ($205,391).
The case has unfolded against the backdrop of persistently high inflation in Türkiye, where food products remain among the most sensitive components of household spending.
In August, Türkiye's annual inflation eased to 32.95%, while food inflation stayed higher at 33.28%, continuing to pose an upside risk to the disinflation process, as the Turkish central bank often mentioned.
Cooking oil, in particular, is one of the most volatile staples, with prices rising sharply during recent inflationary cycles.
The government has introduced strict oversight measures to curb price manipulation and unfair market practices, with the Trade Ministry increasing inspections and warning against misleading claims.
In the first eight months of 2025 alone, the ministry imposed nearly ₺1.9 billion ($45.91 million) in administrative fines on businesses over excessive pricing, stockpiling, and labeling violations.
Authorities argue that such measures are necessary to protect consumers, maintain fair competition, and limit volatility in essential goods such as edible oils.
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