Pathologist expresses concern about return of turkey tails

Accra, March 31, GNA - Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa, Head of Pathology of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, on Friday expressed concern about the return of turkey tails to the market and warned that it contains high animal fat.

In a statement issued in Accra, he noted that turkey tails, which were banned, "have found their way back with a vengeance". "They contain a high content of animal fat and are deleterious to human health."

Prof. Akosa was reacting to a statement by Dr. Samuel Dapaah, Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, about the nutritional value of chicken feet imported into the country.

Last week, Dr. Dapaah at a press conference in Accra said chicken feet imported into the country are safe for consumption because they satisfy international health requirements.

Dr. Dapaah sought to clarify a story carried in the "The Guide" which quoted Dr. Akosa as saying chicken legs and neck were dangerous. Prof. Akosa, who is also President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), said until the saga of mad cow disease in the United Kingdom, chicken feet were crushed and used in offal preparation for animal feed.

He said Dr. Dapaah's statement that "chicken feet contains 40 per cent protein" may be only factual as osterid in bone and collagen in ligaments are protein but have minimal nutritional value as they are not accessible to the humans who eat it.

Prof. Akosa explained that chicken feet are not the only food items infected or contaminated by salmonella but the way "we cook and rid it of the bacteria". "Chicken feet are grilled and sold at all sorts of places in Ghana.

Can any official state that it does not add to the numerous cases of salmonellosis in Ghana?" He said Ghana seems to have given the poultry farmers in Europe and America something to do with chicken feet rather than pay money to dispose of them and in return get paid for it.

"The pressure on the cedi from, among others, chicken feet importers, and the impact of the free-fall of the cedi on all aspects of Ghana's way of life is totally unacceptable."

Prof. Akosa added that "too many people are dying needlessly in the country and the components of poor nutritional base cannot be underestimated". He said he expected that officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would recommend the eating of beans and other protein substitutes rather than chicken feet to the poor.

"The poor in this country deserve foods with good nutritional values ... the prevention of disease and promotion of good health should be an aspiration for all."