How is bottled water regulated?
Last week we discussed unreported water violations as a consequence of the shear volume processed at water treatment facilities. Even if municipal water systems were able to adhere to the FDA regulations consistently, water still must travel through miles of pipeline. Many times water may be “safe” or within normal limits leaving water treatment facilities, but by the time it reaches a household it may have become contaminated. Water is one of the main essentials of health and as such, should be as pure as possible. So, the question is “What are the differences between different types of bottled water?” First bottled water is held to the same standards as tap water, meaning at the very minimum, it is “safe” tap water. The FDA classifies bottled water as a food source. Food source status requires bottled water to be hygienically sealed; ensuring the quality of water is the same when you open the bottle as when it left the plant. Bottled water must strictly adhere to claims made on the o
Bottled water is the most highly regulated packaged food products that is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, IBWA model code and states. As a food product, bottled water is subject to food branding and adulteration provisions while also required to have nutrition labeling and claims. Regulations contained in the IBWA Model Code, exceed the FDA regulations currently in place for bottled water.
Bottled water was not always standardized. That is, water bottling companies had the liberty to label their bottled water any way they pleased. This all changed in 1996 when the FDA set standards that all bottled water companies were required to follow. Some of the standards included: • Bottled water from municipal supplies must be clearly labeled as such, unless it is processed sufficiently to be labeled as “distilled” or “purified” water. • Bottled water must be processed, packaged, shipped, and stored in a safe and sanitary manner and be truthfully and accurately labeled. • Bottled water must also meet specific FDA quality standards for contaminants. Is bottled water really healthier than tap water? One contributing factor to the popularity of bottled water is that people commonly believe that bottled water is “healthier” than tap water is. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), in particular, are important minerals we would want in our water. Death rates tend to be lower in areas with ta
