Consumers and sellers of fried turkey tails, popularly known as ‘tsofi’, are kicking against the new resolve of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) to enforce the ban on the fatty delicacy. In a statement, the FDB expressed concern about the illegal importation of turkey tail into the country, despite the existence of a law prohibiting it. The statement also warned about the health implications of consuming ‘tsofi’. It noted 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 percent 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.” The statement said diets high in saturated fats can increase the risk of lungs, breast, colon and brain cancers. Following the announcement of the FDB’s new efforts to clamp down on the illegal importation of turkey tails, Joy News went in search of consumers and sellers of turkey tails whose reactions showed they are not in the least amused. Deputy Chief Executive of the FDB, Odame Darkwah, said the board is going to intensify surveillance activities to arrest people who import turkey tails illegally. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana