The Chief Executive Officer of Demiah Natural Fruit Juice, Emmanuel Demiah, has urged consumers to scrutinise the regulatory status, origins, and health implications of beverages before purchasing them.

According to him, a growing number of beverages on the Ghanaian market are either expired or unapproved, posing significant health risks to consumers.

Mr Demiah advised consumers to examine product labels thoroughly, ensuring they bear a valid FDA registration number, clearly marked expiry dates, information on the source and producer, and that the product packaging is intact and undamaged.

"Don't just consume any food or beverage without doing safety background checks. Consumption of unwholesome food items has dire consequences for your well-being. Your health is your wealth; prioritise it," he emphasised.

Speaking at the launch of Demiah’s Natural Fruit Juice, the CEO highlighted the need for heightened public awareness and stricter regulatory enforcement, linking increasing cases of premature deaths to poor dietary choices, especially the consumption of unsafe beverages marketed as energy boosters.

He disclosed that some consumers, particularly women, have reported health complications allegedly linked to such unapproved beverages. Mr Demiah, therefore, urged Ghanaians to be more conscious of the potential health risks associated with their dietary habits, calling it a necessary step toward improving national well-being.

He also appealed to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and its allied agencies to intensify market surveillance and clamp down on the importation and smuggling of uncertified food and beverages, as well as poor storage practices.

Mr Demiah further called on the FDA to urgently remove expired or unapproved products from the market to safeguard public health.

The FDA is responsible for regulatory oversight of food and beverages in Ghana. Its functions include conducting inspections of food service establishments, issuing operational permits, registering street food vendors, investigating food safety complaints, and ensuring proper labelling and production standards.

It also collaborates with the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) on food safety matters and monitors the use of ingredients and additives in food products.