Illegally imported turkey tails destroyed

The Food and Drugs Board (FDB), in collaboration with the National Security and the Customs, Exercise and Preventive Service (CEPS), on Wednesday, seized three containers at the Tema Port, suspected to be containing turkey-tails.

When one of the containers was opened, a total of 2,095 cartons of turkey tails imported from Italy were discovered.

The cartons of turkey tails were concealed among 692 cartons of chicken backs. The other two containers are yet to be examined.

Briefing the Press on the exercise, Mr Emmanuel Yaw Kwarteng, Head of the Import and Export Department of the FDB, said the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1999 banned the importation of poultry and poultry products with total fat content exceeding 15 per cent.

Mr Kwarteng said turkey tails were still being smuggled into the country, either through unapproved routes, or through misleading declaration of product content, at the approved point of entry.

He stated that research had shown that turkey tail, being of animal source, was likely to have a good proportion of saturated fats, which were associated with high cholesterol level.

He explained that the saturated fats were the major causes of many diseases, including heart-related diseases.

Mr Kwarteng assured the general public that the FDB would do its best to ensure public health and safety.

Mr Joseph K. Donkor, Head Collector of CEPS, cautioned that turkey-tail imported into the country would be seized and destroyed at the expense of the importers.

He said CEPS together with FDB, the National Security and the Veterinary Service Directorate, would continue to intensify inspection of primary cold storage facilities and all frozen food consignments in the country.

Source: GNA