FDA explains why banned turkey tail still appears on Ghanaian markets

The Food and Drugs Authority has explained why turkey tail, popularly known locally as tsofi, continues to surface in parts of the Ghanaian market despite an official ban that has been in force since 1999.

The Authority says the product remains difficult to completely eradicate from the food supply chain due to the way it is imported and concealed within consignments of frozen goods entering the country.

Turkey tail was banned in Ghana in 1999 over concerns about its high fat content and associated health risks, including obesity, hypertension, heart disease and other non-communicable illnesses linked to excessive consumption.

Despite repeated enforcement efforts and public health warnings, the product continues to appear in some cold stores and market outlets, raising renewed concerns among regulators and consumers.

Speaking to Citi Newsroom, Deputy Chief Executive of the FDA’s Food Division, Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei, said enforcement challenges at the country’s entry points make detection difficult.

He explained that some importers and smugglers deliberately hide the banned product among other frozen food items, making it harder for inspection officers to identify during routine checks.

According to him, full inspection of all consignments is not always possible, as regulatory officers often rely on sampling methods during checks at ports and cold storage facilities.

“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,” he said.

“When we are doing inspections, it is not like a 100 percent check. You sample, then pick, and then look at it,” he added.

Mr. Daddey-Adjei noted that authorities have recently intensified surveillance measures, including enhanced verification and inspection procedures targeting importers of frozen food products.

He said the FDA is carrying out what it describes as “side verification inspections” in collaboration with other agencies to clamp down on the circulation of contraband items, including banned frozen meat products.

The Authority has reiterated its warning to the public to avoid consumption of turkey tail due to its health implications and has urged traders and importers to comply strictly with food safety regulations.

Officials say enforcement will be strengthened in the coming months as part of broader efforts to safeguard public health and ensure compliance within Ghana’s frozen food supply chain.

Jacqueline Nana Tutua