NMWE reacts to Agir pour l’Environnement publication regarding microplastics in bottled water
According to a statement by Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), a study called ‘We drink plastic’, published in France, by Agir pour l’Environnement on the topic of microplastics in bottled water is ‘very limited in nature and did not duplicate its analysis in order to corroborate its findings. The study itself states that it has “no scientific purpose” ‘.
Globally, data on microplastics is still limited and conclusions differ from one study to another. Recent analysis from the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that data on occurrence of microplastics in drinking water is still limited, and that conclusions are often not reliable and differ from one study to another because of the lack of an official standardised methodology. The WHO further concluded that, although there is insufficient information to draw firm conclusion on the toxicity of microplastics, no reliable information suggests it is a concern. [1]
In its statement, NMWA said:
“As an industry we continue take the safety and quality of our products very seriously and continue to support further scientific understanding in this area.”
Natural mineral and spring waters play in important role in European health, providing a safe, convenient and healthy means of hydration. They are high-quality products strictly regulated by EU food and drink legislation. Under EU legislation (Directive 2009/54/EC), natural mineral and spring waters must come from a protected underground source and must be protected from all risk of human pollution. Both types of waters must be safe to drink at source in their natural state and may not be disinfected nor chemically treated. Alongside regular testing and monitoring at the source and throughout the entire bottling process this guarantees the product reaches the consumer in the utmost quality. In the EU, more than one million quality analyses are conducted annually by producers’ quality assurance units and by accredited external laboratories.
[1] World Health Organization, Microplastics in drinking-water, 2019, ISBN: 978-92-4-151619-8