Ban On ‘Turkey Tail’ Importation To Ghana

Consumers and sellers of fried turkey tails, popularly known in Ghana as ‘tsofi’, are against the new resolve of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to enforce the ban on the fatty delicacy.

FDA expressed concern about the illegal importation of turkey tails into the country, despite the existence of a law prohibiting it.

It also warned of the health implications of consuming ‘tsofi’, noting that “The Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1999…issued a communiqué to all importers to the effect that poultry and poultry products with a total fat content exceeding 15% was banned and not to be imported into the country.

“Consequently the Ministry of Food and Agriculture also stopped issuing permits for the importation of turkey tails into Ghana. However, turkey tails are still found on the Ghanaian market. It is therefore clear that these turkey tails are smuggled in either through unapproved routes, or through misleading declaration of product content at the approved points of entry,” it said.

“It is worth noting that the fat from turkey tail, being of animal source, is likely to have a good proportion of animal fats which are associated with high cholesterol level and as such are implicated in the occurrence many diseases including heart diseases.” Diets high in saturated fats can increase the risk of lungs, breast, colon and brain cancers.

Written by; Citizen Sika with information from FDA document.