Around the world, in both developed and developing countries, there are an increasing number of water offerings that are being marketed, packaged and sold as closely resembling bottled water.
Around the world, in both developed and developing countries, there are an increasing number of water offerings that are being marketed, packaged and sold as closely resembling bottled water.
Included among these are bench-top filtering and bottling systems, companies that refill containers with either treated or non-treated waters (such as water that has been through reverse osmosis and ozonated water), and retailers who bottle water inside their stores.
A high profile example is Australian chef Neil Perry, who owns many famous restaurants, including Rockpool in Melbourne. According to recent reports, Perry is planning to filter Melbourne tap water and offer it for sale to patrons at Aus$9.50 (about R100) a bottle while ditching his imported Italian brand that sells for Aus$9.75.
The motivation behind restaurateurs, caterers, hotels and pubs moving to what are known as bench-top treated waters is sometimes linked to riding the consumer trend towards electing to drink water ahead of other non-alcoholic packaged beverages.
It can also be linked to improving their carbon footprint as the water is bottled in-house into re-usable glass bottles, thereby minimising plastic waste and the transport and fuel costs associated with bottled water.
Unfortunately, some of these systems save carbon footprint at the cost of water footprint, but ride the "green" wave regardless.
Whatever the reason, consumers should be concerned about the quality of the water being offered by these alternatives, especially in South Africa which has among the most stringent legislation when it comes to bottled water.
This is the opinion of the South African National Bottled Water Association’s executive director, Charlotte Metcalf, who pointed out that some of these practices produce what is defined by legislation as "drinking water" while others are defined as "packaged water".
In practise this means that some of these practices may legally adhere to less stringent quality and standards control than the others.
Knowing which is which is particularly important, especially when viewed in the light of recent research which shows that the average re-usable water bottle – glass or not – could be harbouring more germs than your dog’s bowl.
The Department of Health has taken a view on how the various types of water can be classified:
· * Bulk water transported in tankers to distribute to rural or urban areas = public water supply and not within the scope of packaged water legislation.
· * Bulk water in large bottles for office coolers = packaged water
· * Re-filling into the consumer’s own containers = drinking water not within the scope of packaged water legislation
· * Bench-top treated waters and shop-floor treated waters bottled on site = packaged water
The critical question regular consumers of bottled waters should ask is: What are the legislative requirements that must be adhered to by waters classified as packaged water?
“In a nutshell, packaged water must be packaged in a food grade container and hermetically sealed with a tamper-evident component.
All relevant food legislation applies and the facility should be set up as a suitable food production site complete with all microbiological and chemical verification tests conducted on the source water and the final product, ” explained Metcalf.
In particular, businesses operating bench-top and shop-floor systems must conform to packaged water, labelling and food safety legislation including:
· * Adhering to microbiological legislation: Regulations Governing Microbiological Standards for Foodstuffs and related matters, R.692
· * Conforming to treatment, labelling and chemical regulations as per R.718
· * Conforming labelling legislation as detailed in R.718 and Regulations Relating to Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs, R.146
· * All food hygienic design and hygienic handling legislation, in essence the entire shop becomes the food handling area and needs to conform.
“In South Africa, bottled water is regarded as ‘food for human consumption/packaged water’, and therefore the bottled water industry has to comply with stringent legislation and regulations," Metcalf said.
“Similarly, the bench-top treated waters bottled and offered by restaurants, catering businesses and conference venues are regarded by the Department of Health as food for human consumption/packaged water, and therefore need to comply with the same requirements.
“Many of these businesses will not be aware of this, but must be urged to take the necessary steps to create compliant food production areas, test their water for compliance and label information, add best before dates and correct product information on their product bottles and labels, or they must cease to offer this product,” she said.
