1 July 2026 Restaurant Menu Regulations: Is a QR Menu Mandatory?
A new period begins for restaurant and café menus in Türkiye on 1 July 2026. Businesses will gradually be required to provide clearer information about ingredients, allergens and product contents. This guide explains whether QR menus are mandatory and how businesses in Tokat can prepare.
What Changes on 1 July 2026?
Under the new system, food service businesses may need to display additional information according to the products they offer. This information may include: * Main ingredients * The animal species from which meat is obtained * Allergens * Alcohol content * Pork or pork-derived ingredients * Portion-based energy or calorie values * Other important product warnings For example, simply writing “meatballs” may not be sufficient. The menu should clarify whether the product contains beef, lamb or poultry. Allergens such as milk, eggs, gluten, peanuts or tree nuts should also be communicated clearly to customers.
Do the Rules Apply to Every Café from 1 July?
The transition is being implemented gradually according to the scale and structure of the business. Based on the announced transition schedule, 1 July 2026 is particularly important for nationwide restaurant chains. Businesses with three or more branches within the same province and smaller independent businesses may have different compliance deadlines. A single-location café in Tokat may therefore not have the same initial deadline as a national chain with branches throughout Türkiye. Businesses should nevertheless begin preparing their product descriptions, ingredients and allergen records without waiting for the final deadline.
Are QR Menus Mandatory?
QR menus are not generally mandatory for every restaurant or café. Businesses may provide the required product and price information through: * Printed menus * QR-code digital menus * Digital screens * Menu boards * Brochures * Other accessible information tools When a QR code is used, customers should be able to see it easily and understand how to access the digital menu. Customers cannot be forced to use only a QR code. A physical menu or price list must also be provided when requested. The accurate interpretation is: QR menus are optional, but menu information must be clear, current and accessible.
Is Calorie Information Mandatory?
Calorie information is part of the planned menu transparency requirements, but businesses have been given a longer transition period. Current announcements refer to 31 December 2027 as the deadline for adding calorie information to menus. This means that it may not be accurate to claim that every small café must calculate and display calories for every product on 1 July 2026. Businesses can prepare by recording recipes, portion sizes and ingredient quantities.
How Can Digital Menus Help?
A printed menu may need to be redesigned whenever ingredients, prices or allergen details change. With a digital menu, information can be updated through a management panel and reflected in the customer-facing menu without reprinting every copy. Digital menu product fields may include: * Product name * Description * Price * Ingredients * Meat type * Allergens * Portion information * Calorie value * Product image * Special warnings Digital menus can therefore make detailed product information easier to organise and maintain.
Kayber Software and KBMenu
KBMenu is a digital menu solution developed by Kayber Software for cafés, restaurants, bakeries and other food service businesses. Customers can open the menu by scanning a QR code or bringing their phone close to an NFC area. The menu works in the browser and does not require a separate mobile application. With KBMenu, businesses can: * Manage products and categories * Update prices digitally * Add product descriptions and images * Offer QR and NFC access * Manage individual tables * Receive waiter calls * Receive bill requests * Provide a mobile-friendly menu As menu requirements evolve, structured product descriptions, allergen information and ingredient management are becoming increasingly important. Businesses can visit kbmenu.com to explore KBMenu and request a digital menu solution tailored to their needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are QR menus mandatory from 1 July 2026? No. QR codes are one of the methods that businesses can use to provide menu and price information. Is a QR menu alone sufficient? A QR menu may be used at the table, but a physical price list or menu must also be provided when requested. Must every café display calorie information on 1 July? Calorie information has a longer transition schedule. Current announcements refer to 31 December 2027 as the final compliance date. Do the rules immediately apply to small businesses in Tokat? The transition is gradual and may depend on the number of branches and the structure of the business.
Conclusion
The new menu period beginning on 1 July 2026 aims to make both prices and product contents more transparent for consumers. Contrary to common claims, the rules do not require every business to use only a QR menu. Businesses may provide the required information through printed menus, QR codes, digital screens or other accessible methods. Those using QR codes must still be able to provide a physical menu when requested. Businesses in Tokat can begin preparing by reviewing ingredients, allergens, prices and their existing menu infrastructure. For more information about Kayber Software’s digital menu product, visit kbmenu.com. Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Businesses should follow the latest announcements issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Trade and the relevant provincial authorities.