The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has disclosed how popular Ghanaian delicacy turkey tail, locally called "tsofi," which has been banned in the country, still finds its way into Ghanaian markets.

Though the product has been banned since 1999 over health risks, it continues to surface in markets and cold stores nationwide.

Following recent discourse about turkey tail, the FDA disclosed that the product finds its way to the market because importers hide it inside larger shipments of frozen goods.

The FDA says the concealment makes detection at ports and borders extremely difficult for inspectors, as an adomonline.com report on May 18, 2026, stated.

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Health authorities have long warned that regular consumption of turkey tail can lead to heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and other complications due to its dangerously high fat levels.

The issue resurfaced after the FDA stepped up warnings about the banned product’s presence in the frozen food market.

Deputy Chief Executive of the Food Division of the FDA, Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei, stated that smugglers use both unapproved routes and official ports to bring the product in.

“It might be that people use unapproved routes. Some even use the port. But as I said, it is frozen and mixed up with other items in the consignment,” citinewsroom.com quoted him to have said.

He explained that inspections are not 100 percent checks. Officers sample and examine selected portions, which makes it easy for contraband to slip through.

“Lately, even for those bringing in frozen meat, there has been concern about contraband. Authorities will be doing what we call ‘side verification inspections’ with those who bring in frozen products,” he added.

The FDA says it is intensifying checks, but the sophisticated smuggling methods remain a major challenge to keeping the banned product out of the supply chain.

NAD/VPO