Bottled Water
- Bottled water is often high in
heavy alkaline minerals and usually contains sodium or carbonation.
- Bottled drinking water varies in composition and flavor depending on
the source of the water and processing method used.
- Labels may or may
not disclose the source of the water and descriptive terms that appear
on bottled water labels may or may not have legal definitions. However,
if the manufacturer lists the source, it must be able to defend the
source.
- Bottled water has not been proven effective for any
therapeutic use.
- Bottled water manufacturers are not permitted to make
health claims about bottled water. Further, FDA prohibits any medical
claim to be made for any bottled water product.
- According to
ACNielsen, Americans spent about $9 billion on bottled water in 2003.
Consumption is slowing, and prices are increasing.
- A broader
water-related trend is also taking place. ACNielsen tells us that
people may be getting more water through the tap, or through the unit
on their refrigerator/freezer doors.
- Americans went through
about 50 billion plastic water bottles last year, estimated 167 for
each person. Durable, lightweight containers manufactured just to be
discarded.
- Water bottles are made of totally recyclable polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) plastic, so we share responsibility for their
impact: Our recycling rate for PET is only 23%, which means we pitch
into landfills 38 billion water bottles a year--more than $1 billion
worth of plastic
- We're moving 1 billion bottles of water around
a week in ships, trains, and trucks in the United States alone. That's
a weekly convoy equivalent to 37,800 18-wheelers delivering water.
Water weighs 81/3 pounds a gallon. It's so heavy you can't fill an
18-wheeler with bottled water--you have to leave empty space.
- Two
general types of bottled water are nonsparkling or still and sparkling
or carbonated. Used primarily as an alternative to tap water for
drinking, cooking and ice cubes, still water is any bottled water
without carbonation. More than 90 percent of the bottled water consumed
in the U.S. is of this type. Consumed as a refreshment beverage, in
place of soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, sparkling water is water
carbonated with carbon dioxide.
- We pitch into landfills 38 billion water bottles a year--in excess of $1 billion worth of plastic.
- Bottled
water is regulated at the federal and state level. At the federal
level, bottled water is regulated as a food and, therefore, comes under
the jurisdiction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Bottled water is subject to the requirements of the federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act, and, if it is sold as a consumer commodity, is
subject to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. In the code of Federal
Regulations, FDA has established standard of identity and standard of
quality regulations for bottled water (21 CFR 103.35 and 165.l10), and
current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for processing
and bottling of bottled drinking water (21 CFR part 129). FDA’s rules
are weaker in many ways than EPA (Tap Water) rules.
Bottled Water and self life - indefinitely shelf live under optimal conditions
- The FDA has not established a shelf life for bottled water. In the United States bottled water's shelf life is date stamped for two years. This acts as a SKU number and is mainly for stock rotation purposes. It does not imply that the product is compromised after that date. As long as bottled water is packaged in accordance with FDA processing and good manufacturing practices, 21 CFR, Part 129, and is meeting the FDA quality standard provisions as outlined in 21 CFR, Part 165, the product's shelf life should remain intact for an indefinite period of time.
- Properly stored bottled water has indefinitely shelf live. However, long-term storage of bottled water may result in aesthetic defects, such as off-odor and taste.
- IBWA advises consumers to store bottled water in an unopened container at room temperature (or cooler), out of direct sunlight and away from solvents and chemicals such as gasoline, paint thinners and dry cleaning chemicals.
- Bottled water is an excellent choice for emergency water storage.
- FDA Good Manufacturing Practices mandate that bottled water be produced in a sanitary environment and bottled in sanitary, safety-sealed containers.
- Tap Water – rotate every six month under optimal conditions
- The recommendations are different for water (tap water) that is filled in containers and stored for an food and water emergency.
- FEMA recommendations for water that is self bottled are to store the water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiber glass or enamel-lined metal containers.
- Plastic containers such as soft drink bottles are considered a good choice. The containers need to be sealed tightly, labeled and stored in a cool dark place.
- The recommendation is to rotate water every six month.
- Recently released emergency preparedness guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommend that all households maintain an emergency supply of water -- at least one gallon per person per day for three days -- for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene.
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