ALO 174 Food Counseling Line is a communication channel established to enable consumers to directly report complaints and notifications regarding food safety to the authorized authorities. The counseling line is operated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and functions as a system that encourages public participation in the food safety inspection process.

^{ALO 174 Food Counseling Line Activity (T.C. Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı)}

Establishment and Purpose

ALO 174 Food Counseling Line began its operations on February 14, 2009. The counseling line was created to centralize communication, provide citizens with timely responses, and allow for monitoring of the process outcomes. The system aims to increase public participation in food safety efforts conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and to actively involve consumers in the food safety inspection process.

Operation and Scope of Services

Reports and complaints submitted to ALO 174 are recorded by specially trained operators. The call center provides 24/7 service across Turkey, while the live support unit operates from 08:00 to 00:00. Citizens can submit complaints and notifications via telephone, online live support, email, mobile application, or SMS.

To create a complaint record, the reported establishment’s full address, signboard name, and a clear description of the complaint must be provided. Submissions are received through a web-based software system and are directed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry central office or designated contact points in 81 provinces according to their content. Reviews, inspections, and evaluations conducted by relevant units are recorded in the system.

Evaluation and Monitoring of Applications

Applications submitted to ALO 174 are answered within 15 days at the latest. In cases where samples need to be collected or laboratory analyses are required, applicants are provided preliminary information within 15 days and are regularly updated on the process. The assessment and resolution of applications are carried out by official control officers working in provincial and district directorates affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Applicants can track the process using the reference number provided through the website or by calling the counseling line again. Citizens who share their email address and mobile phone information are sent notifications upon completion of the process. Personal information collected during the complaint process is used solely for tracking the application and is not shared with third parties.

Fee Information

ALO 174 Food Counseling Line is charged to prevent false reports and misuse. According to agreements with Türk Telekom and GSM operators, the lowest rate is applied. As per the regulation of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority dated February 1, 2013, calls made from landlines or mobile networks to three-digit numbers starting with “1” are deducted from the “All Directions Call” limits or billed accordingly. However, submissions via email, website, live support, or mobile application are free of charge.

Statistical Data

From its launch on February 14, 2009, until January 13, 2025, ALO 174 Food Counseling Line received a total of 3,192,184 calls. Of these, 1,123,908 were recorded as food-related complaints and notifications, and 1,120,109 were resolved. Since the introduction of the WhatsApp line in 2020, 108,270 notifications were received as of January 13, 2025; of these, 33,238 were recorded as food complaints, and 32,801 were resolved.

Contribution to Food Safety

ALO 174 Food Counseling Line is considered an essential mechanism for enabling citizen participation in the food safety system in Turkey. Recording notifications and complaints and integrating them into inspection processes serves as an effective tool in ensuring food safety. In this respect, the counseling line contributes to strengthening the food control mechanism and raising public awareness.

^{ALO 174 Food Counseling Line (ALO 174 Gıda)}