The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has shed light on why turkey tail, widely known in Ghana as tsofi, continues to circulate in local markets more than two decades after it was officially banned.
The authority says the product’s persistence in Ghana’s food supply chain is largely due to the sophisticated manner in which importers conceal it within larger consignments of frozen goods, making detection at entry points a significant challenge for inspectors.
Turkey tail was banned in Ghana in 1999 over serious concerns about its high fat content and the health risks posed by regular consumption. Health authorities have long warned that the product contains dangerously elevated levels of fat that can contribute to obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and a range of other complications.
Despite the ban remaining in force, the product continues to surface in markets and cold stores across the country, drawing renewed alarm from regulators and health-conscious consumers.
The matter regained public attention following intensified warnings from the FDA about the banned product’s continued presence within the frozen food market.
Speaking to Citi News, Deputy Chief Executive of the Food Division of the FDA, Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei, shared the difficulties authorities encounter when trying to intercept turkey tail shipments at Ghana’s ports and border crossings.
“It might be that people will use some unapproved routes. Some will even be able to use the port. But like I said, it is frozen and then it is mixed up with other items in the consignment.
“When we are doing inspections, it is not like a 100 percent check. You sample, then pick, and then look at it. But lately, even for those who are bringing in frozen meat, there has been a concern for some contraband. Authorities will be doing what we call ‘side verification inspections’ with those who bring in frozen products,” he said.
