Image Source: Freepik
From Trusted Choice to High-Risk Category: Explaining FSSAI’s New Bottled Water Requirements
Perhaps to the astonishment of many, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has in its current categorization ranked bottled water as ‘very high risk.’ People have been forced to question this move, and many of those who previously consumed bottled water due to perceived safety have been made to develop other concerns.
This is because bottled water sellers have several times been found to have contaminated water that affects the health of the consumers. The regulatory authority has recently underlined the necessity of increasing the degree of effective quality control of the bottled water to guarantee the absence of impurities and the client’s health protection.
Should You Ditch the Bottle? Identifying Some of the Emerging Hazards of Drinking Bottled Water
While bottled water is often perceived as a healthier alternative to tap water, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks associated with it:
- Plastic Contamination: Any water stored in a plastic container is a potential health risk because the water will leach out the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) when exposed to heat or sunlight and you will be drinking it.
- Microbial Contamination: That is why things such as sunlight, heat, moisture, improper temperature and exposure to various gases affect the bottled water in that it provides room for bacterial and other microscopic organisms to grow.
- Environmental Impact: The manufacture of these bottles, and their subsequent disposal, fall squarely under the current trend of pollutive practices that harm the earth negatively.
Increased Scrutiny, Enhanced Safety: The High Risk Label Explained for Bottled Water Consumers
Image Source: Freepik
Analysing the FSSAI’s categorization of bottled water as “High Risk” literally means that there is going to be more emphasis, control and regulation. This means that manufacturers will be required to adhere to stricter quality control standards, including:
- Regular Testing: Bottled water will be tasted routinely so that it can be identified whether it has met the required safety and purity standard.
- Transparent Labeling: The regulation will need manufacturers to clearly and accurately state the source of water used and the processes used to treat it and an expiration date.
- Stricter Monitoring: To this end, FSSAI will regularly raid manufacturing facilities to ascertain compliance with laws and standards set.
Hydration Without Hassle: Learning about safer options than using bottled water
While bottled water has been a popular choice for hydration, there are several safe and sustainable alternatives:
- Tap Water: It is reasonable to state that tap water doesn’t have to be dangerous and it can be used as more cost-effective and less damaging choice.
- Filtered Water: A water filter is also useful for purification of tap water by filtering out dirt and also other evil in the water.
- Reusable Water Bottles: A reusable water bottle is cheap and useful in that it cuts down on the use of plastic, especially if you are the type that loves to drink water when on the move.
This means that it is possible to make the right decisions and use healthy products that will help you achieve safe and healthy hydration for a more sustainable future.
