A public notice issued by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) reminding Ghanaians about the ban on the importation of turkey tail, popularly known as “chofi,” has sparked debate on social media over why tobacco products remain legally available despite their known health risks.
In the notice released on Monday, May 11, 2026, the FDA reiterated that turkey tail and other poultry products containing more than 15 per cent fat were banned in 1999 by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and that the directive remains in force.
According to the Authority, the Ministry prohibited the importation of poultry products exceeding the approved fat threshold, while the Ghana Standards Authority established 15 per cent as the legal fat limit for dressed poultry products.
Despite the long standing ban, turkey tail continues to be openly sold in several markets across the country.
Following the FDA’s publication of the notice on Facebook, some members of the public questioned why tobacco products, which also pose serious health risks, have not been banned.
In response, the FDA explained that tobacco products are generally regulated rather than prohibited in many countries around the world.
According to the Authority, outright bans on tobacco often encourage illegal trade, weaken enforcement systems, and reduce government control over such products.
The FDA said governments instead adopt regulatory measures including taxation, health warning labels, age restrictions, and advertising controls to minimise the health risks associated with tobacco use.
“It’s not approval of risk, but a strategy to manage it,” the FDA explained.
Health experts have consistently warned that turkey tail contains high levels of fat and cholesterol, which are linked to obesity, heart disease, and certain forms of cancer.
The FDA also indicated that turkey tails may contain residues of veterinary drugs used during poultry production, increasing concerns beyond their fat content alone.
Tobacco, however, remains one of the leading causes of preventable deaths globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that tobacco use causes more than eight million deaths each year worldwide.
In Ghana, tobacco products are regulated under the Public Health Act, 2012, and the Tobacco Control Regulations, 2016, which provide for health warning labels, restrictions on advertising, and age limits for tobacco sales.
While tobacco products continue to be openly sold in shops and retail outlets, “chofi” remains the target of enforcement exercises by regulatory authorities.
Over the years, the FDA and the Ghana Police Service have conducted joint operations in markets to seize turkey tail products from traders.
Reacting to the continued availability of “chofi” in places such as Nsawam, Nkrumah Circle, Winneba Junction, and Asikuma, some social media users questioned how the banned product still finds its way onto the market.
Others argued that enforcement efforts should focus more on ports of entry rather than targeting traders at the market level.
