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Consumer group warns of harmful bottled water

Safe to drink Five of the 33 tested brands of bottled water passed the test: *Chi Kung (吉康天淨水) *Cleanfield Bottled Water (清境好水) *Green Time Natural Drinking (波爾天然水) *Alaska Glacier Water (阿拉斯加天然冰河水) *Pure Glacier Water (加拿大冰川水) Five of the 17 tested brands of bottled mineral water were considered safe: *Yes (悅氏礦泉水) *Wei Chuan Mineral Water (味全礦泉水) *More (味丹多喝水) *Volvic (光泉富維克天然礦泉水) *Evian Natural Water (愛維養天然礦泉水) Graphic: TT

Eighty percent of bottled water and mineral water sold in Taiwan failed to pass a quality-control test and is unfit for consumption, the Consumers' Foundation said yesterday.

According to the foundation, just 10 of 50 tested brands were considered fit for consumption -- evidence that the bottled water and mineral water industry in Taiwan is insufficiently regulated.

Many local bottled water manufacturers failed to pass the foundation's test because bacteria levels in the water were too high.

For some brands of bottled water, the level of bacteria was 50 times higher than the acceptable standards, according to the foundation.

In addition, the foundation said the quality of bottled water can deteriorate rapidly if bottles are not quickly delivered to retailers and stored properly.

The foundation said consumers should carefully select brands when purchasing bottled water or mineral water. For other brands, consumers were warned to boil the water first before consumption.

A high-quality product must have both a manufacturing and expiration date on the bottle, and it needs to be completely sealed, the foundation said.
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