Confusion As FSA Says Water 'Safe'

The quality and safety of bottled waters is not a problem - despite concerns raised today - according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

There is continued confusion though as a new statement has emerged after claims of high levels of contamination being found in bottled waters surveyed by the official food safety watchdog.

Now, the FSAI said its draft report on the safety of bottled natural mineral water, spring water and other waters in 2007 revealed that just one per cent of the waters surveyed had traces of E.Coli and 6.3% were found to contain coliforms.

It originally said it was concerned about the levels of E-coli detected but said its environmental health officers took 'swift action' by withdrawing a number of bottled waters from the market and taking corrective actions in the bottling process.

There were coliforms present in the test sample - these are a group of bacteria that indicate standards of hygiene at the water source or during the bottling process are poor - but the FSAI now say their presence in bottled water does not necessarily indicate a risk to consumer health

While the full report on bottled waters is due to be published shortly, Fine Gael has called for the companies involved to be named and shamed.

Its spokesperson on food Andrew Doyle said it was completely unacceptable the public were being kept in the dark.

"These tests were carried out almost a year ago," he said.

"At this stage, all information must be immediately released and the brands that tested negative must be named and shamed.

"At the very minimum last year, the entire batch of contaminated water should have been recalled and the public informed. It is simple not good enough that this did not occur and the FSAI as well as the National Standards Authority of Ireland have serious questions to answer," he added.

(BMcC)