Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormFresh (Refrigerated)
Industry PositionProcessed Dairy Product
Market
Fresh curd cheese in Türkiye is commonly sold as "lor peyniri", a fresh whey/curd cheese used widely in breakfasts and as a pastry filling. The market is primarily domestic-consumption oriented, supplied by both integrated dairy processors and regional "mandıra" producers, with distribution spanning modern grocery retail and traditional bazaars/open markets. Product formulation, heat-treatment requirements for fresh cheeses, and labeling/claims are governed by the Turkish Food Codex Cheese Communiqué (Tebliğ No: 2015/6). For export-oriented trade of fresh dairy products, animal health status considerations (notably foot-and-mouth disease zoning/status) can materially affect market access and certification requirements.
Market RoleMajor domestic producer and consumer market (domestic-production led)
Domestic RoleCommon fresh cheese category for household breakfast use and bakery/pastry applications (e.g., börek fillings)
Risks
Animal Disease HighFoot-and-mouth disease (FMD) animal-health status and zoning can be a market-access blocker for dairy products and can trigger additional importing-country requirements (e.g., specific veterinary assurances, processing/aging conditions, or outright restrictions for certain destinations). WOAH official status information lists Türkiye as having an FMD-free zone where vaccination is practised rather than a fully countrywide FMD-free status.Before contracting exports, confirm destination-market dairy import conditions tied to FMD status (country vs zone), and align product/process parameters and veterinary certification language with the importing authority’s requirements.
Regulatory Compliance MediumNon-compliance with Turkish Food Codex Cheese Communiqué rules (ingredient restrictions, heat-treatment conditions for fresh cheeses, and labeling/claim limitations) can lead to enforcement actions, relabeling, or withdrawal from sale channels.Map formulation and labeling to Tebliğ No: 2015/6 requirements and maintain documented process controls (heat-treatment validation, ingredient specs, and label approvals).
Logistics MediumFresh curd/whey cheese is highly cold-chain dependent; temperature abuse during domestic distribution or export transit can cause rapid spoilage and customer rejection.Use refrigerated logistics with continuous temperature monitoring, define maximum transit time windows, and set receiving QC checks (temperature at delivery and packaging integrity).
Food Safety MediumFresh cheese is microbiologically sensitive, and insufficient heat treatment or poor hygiene controls can elevate contamination risk and trigger recalls or border rejection in strict markets.Require validated sanitation programs and food-safety management certification (e.g., ISO 22000/FSSC 22000) and implement robust environmental monitoring for fresh-cheese lines.
Standards- ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System)
- FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification)
FAQ
Can fresh curd cheese (lor-style) in Türkiye be made from raw milk and sold as a fresh product?Official ministry guidance on the Turkish Food Codex Cheese Communiqué notes that for cheeses consumed fresh, raw milk used for those products must undergo heat treatment at least equivalent to pasteurization norms, and certain cheeses made from raw or thermized milk without cooked curd cannot be marketed as fresh and must be ripened for a minimum period before sale.
What formulation and labeling restrictions are highlighted under the Turkish Food Codex Cheese Communiqué relevant to fresh cheeses?Official guidance highlights restrictions on using non-dairy fats and non-milk proteins in cheese, and notes that starch is only allowed in limited circumstances as a stabilizer for flavored/seasoned fresh cheeses. The same guidance also notes labeling restrictions intended to prevent misleading descriptors such as "köy peyniri" or "doğal" on cheese labels.
Which HS code is commonly used internationally for fresh (unripened/uncured) cheese and curd?In HS 2017, heading 0406 covers "Cheese and curd", and subheading 040610 covers "fresh cheese (including whey cheese), not fermented, and curd".