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"Tsofi" still available on demand despite ban

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Turkey tails, commonly known as “Tsofi” in local parlance are still receiving massive patronage despite its ban in the country.

In February 2010, the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) observed with serious concern the proliferation of turkey tails on the local market in flagrant violation of existing regulations and consequently issued a ban on the importation and sale of the meat in the country.

The FDB further issued a strong warning to consumers, encouraging them to desist from patronizing turkey tails and urging members of the public to give information on any person known to be involved in the illegal importation of the said commodity.

In 1999, the Ministry of Trade and Industry issued a communiqué to all importers to the effect that poultry product with total fat content exceeding 15 percent was prohibited in the country.

Consequently, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture also stopped the issuance of permits for the importation of turkey tails into Ghana.

That notwithstanding, checks made by e.tv Ghana indicate that turkey tails, which are mostly accompanied with fried yam, still find their way on the Ghanaian market, making it very clear that the products are still being smuggled into the country.

Turkey tails were banned due to its high content of saturated fats. These fats can increase the risk of lung, colon, breast, uterine and prostrate cancers.

Korkoi, a fried yam seller says she sells a full tail for GHC7. She says demand for the meat by consumers is also high.

Asked where she buys her turkey tails, Korkoi noted that the meat is easy to get at markets such as the Kaneshie market.

Although a lot has already been done by the Food and Drugs Board to eradicate the problem, it would seem that the public are not taking heed to the health warnings and that vendors feel that are still able to flout the law in order to give their customers what they demand.

By: Akosua Asare, e.tv Ghana

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