Tema, Feb 12, GNA - 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.