News Coverage
FDA Proposes Improved Testing Of Bottled Water
Published November 25, 2008
A report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in October found bottled water is no better than tap water.
Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), proposes improved testing of bottled water to detect bacteria.
Every year consumers receive annual test results regarding any contaminants found in tap water, but the bottled water industry is not required to disclose its findings.
Dr. Olga Naidenko, a scientist with Environmental Working Group (EWG) has advised the FDA that its September 17 proposal requiring more testing of bottled water “is not sufficient to ensure bottled water quality.”
The FDA’s proposed regulations would offer limited improvements to the situation, in which bottled water is rarely, if at all, tested for purity, says Naidenko, co-author of EWG’s Bottled Water Quality Report.
Tests conducted by EWG, in October, found 10 popular brands of bottled water contained 38 chemical pollutants, with an average of 8 contaminants in each brand. More than one-third of the chemicals found are not regulated in bottled water.
“Taking into account, the hype and high prices, bottled water should meet a higher standard of purity than tap water,” said Naidenko.
The bottled water industry promotes an image of purity using promotional campaigns heavily saturated with images of mountain springs which leads consumers to believe they are buying a product that is purified beyond the water that comes out of their kitchen faucet.
Bottled water and tap water should be stringently tested to ensure both sources are free from harmful chemicals and bacteria, says Renee Sharp, a scientist with EWG and co-author of Bottled Water Report.
To ensure bottled water is truly safe for consumption, the EWG urges the FDA to strengthen regulations to include the following three counts:
-- Enacting of the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) as enforceable standards for chemical and microbiological contaminants found in water.
-- Companies should be required to make public – the treatment and source information on bottled water labels.
-- Bottled water companies should be required to make public all test results.
Water Safety
Opt for tap over bottled water.
You can look up your city’s water in EWG’s National Tap Water Atlas.
Use filtered water for drinking and cooking.
Change filters regularly; old filters are unsafe and harbor bacteria.
Use safe containers. Hard plastic bottles (#7) can leach harmful plastics chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) into water.
For pregnant women and infants, follow the instructions above and any advice given by your medical doctor. For more information, refer to the EWG website. #
