Is your bottled water just tap water?

So many people grab bottled water and have no idea if they will be drinking purified tap water or spring water.  As the LA Times noted, “You do know that, in most cases, bottled water is just tap water?”  And Americans drink A LOT of bottled water as it is now the #1 beverage, even surpassing sodas.  In 2018, an American consumed about 42 gallons of bottled water and sales were huge reaching $31 billion.  People drink bottled water thinking it is healthier and it is healthier than sugared sodas.  But is bottled water healthier than plain tap water? 

Is bottled water tap water?

In many cases yes.  Rather than open up the tap or fill up a glass of water from your refrigerator, Americans are choosing bottled water.  Both Coke and Pepsi filter tap water, bottle it and then sell it at a nice mark up.  In fact, a study found that “nearly 64% of bottled water in America is just tap water...”

What major brands of bottled water are from tap water?

Popular brands including Dasani, Aquafina and Nestle Pure Life are bottled water brands that are sourced from public water supplies.

How purified is bottled water? 

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested 10 brands of bottled water and they weren’t as “pure” as people think.  EWG found that bottled water, even popular brands, contain some chemical pollutants and “an average of 8 contaminants in each brand”.  EWG tested Walmart’s and Giant’s store brands of bottled water.  Both were the same as water from a municipal water supply and Giant’s water even contained fluoride.  (Note:  the EWG study was from 2008 so results may be different than today.)

• Aquafina notes that it does use public water but then purifies the water with reverse osmosis and “removes things like chlorides, salts and other substances that can affect a water’s taste”. 
• Dasani is also from public water but is filtered and some minerals are added.  The ingredient list notes “purified water, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, salt” and “minerals added for taste”.  

What brands of bottled water are from spring water?

• Mountain Valley Spring Water
• Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water
• Deer Park
• Poland Spring Water

What is the risk of microplastics from bottled water? 

A big concern about bottled water are microplastics or nanoplastics and a chemical called BPA. (See:  Are there plastic water bottles to avoid?)   As noted in my blog post, How much plastic are you eating?,  Consumer Reports has recommended going back to drinking tap water.  Why?  Because the plastic bottled water container “can leach toxic things such as antimony, bisphenols, phthalates, and microplastics”. 

If you do choose to drink from plastic bottled water, here are some ways you can do it more safely:

• Don’t re-use the plastic bottle.  They really aren’t meant to be reused and these bottles break down more readily than stronger plastic containers. 
• Don’t let the plastic water bottle sit in the hot sun and get too hot.  Why?  This can damage the plastic and make it more likely the chemicals in the plastic leach into the water inside. 

Conclusion:  So, the next time you sip from a bottle, remember it might have started as tap water.  It’s essential to check the label or brand information to understand the origin of the water you are purchasing.  I prefer to drink tap water from a metal bottle.  Metal bottle containers are not expensive and can be reused over and over again. Because these bottles are metal, there is no risk of toxic “things” leaching into my water.  When we do choose bottled water, my husband always buys bottled water clearly labeled as Spring Water.  When buy bottled water take time to read the label and choose “Spring Water”.  My daughters like to drink sparkling water.  Luckily, the brand they like comes in cans, not plastic bottles.  I like Perrier and am disappointed that more and more this brand comes in plastic bottles when it always used to come only in glass bottles or cans.  

Sources:  noted , 2018 , bottled water, study , brands , tested , Aquafina , Dasani , Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water , Poland Spring Water , Deer Park , nanoplastics , Are there plastic water bottles to avoid? , , How much plastic are you eating? , Consumer Reports, Perrier   Image Sources: Water bottle , Poland Spring Water  , Metal Water Bottles

Some states are banning popular snacks, why?

A number of states across the country have decided to ban a number of popular snacks because of concerns over food or color additives.  However, other states are relying on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to make these decisions. 

Which states and which food additives?

• California has passed a law known as the “Skittles Ban”.  This law prohibits certain potentially carcinogenic food chemicals like brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3. This law won’t take effect until 2027. 

• Other states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri are considering similar bans on food additives.  New York is considering a similar ban to California and includes the same food additives but also adds titanium dioxide.

What are the health concerns and health risks states are concerned about?

• Red Dye No. 3:  Consumer Reports has an article about Why Is Red Dye No. 3 Banned in Cosmetics but Still Allowed in Food?  As noted in the article, FDA banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in cosmetics over 30 years ago because it is linked to cancer in animals.  But Red Dye No. 3 has been allowed in foods since 1907.  You will see this dye on ingredient lists as “FD&C Red No. 3”.  Why is it still in foods?  Because FDA has ruled it is safe in the amounts we typically consume.  The health concern over this dye is that it may lead to hyperactivity and behavioral problems in kids. 
• Potassium Bromate:  This chemical is used in bread to help “strengthen the texture of bread”.  In rats, it is linked to cancer and may be related to kidney problems in humans.    
• Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO):  It is used in small amounts in fruit flavored beverages to keep the flavoring from floating to the top.  However, today very few beverages contain this ingredient.  FDA decided BVO was safe in the late 1950’s and 1960’s.  But by the late 1960’s, FDA was getting concerns over its safety.  Thus, FDA begin restricting its use and amounts allowed.  On November 2, 2023, FDA has issued a proposed rule that essentially would ban the use of BVO in foods.   EWG indicates BVO “can harm the nervous system”. 

What foods may contain these food additives?

• Red Dye No. 3:  Skittles contains this red dye, and that is why it is called the “Skittles Ban” in California.  But it can be found in over 2,900 food products.  Look at the ingredient list and you may find it in gumdrops, peppermints, strawberry flavored drinks like “Nesquik, Pediasure, Ensure and Yoo-hoo”. 
• Potassium Bromate:  This can be found not only in breads, but also bagels, Englis muffins, crackers, some pastries, and pizza crusts.  An article in Eating Well, noted that a substitute for potassium bromate would be ascorbic acid, better known as Vitamin C.  I just read the label from our just purchased whole wheat bread.  No potassium bromate but they did list ascorbic acid so companies are now shifting from potassium bromate to ascorbic acid.  

• BVO:  USA Today notes that California banned BVO in October 2023 and this oil is banned in Europe and Japan.  EWG found that BVO is in some 90 products, mostly sodas such as “Sun Drop, Orangette and Great Value Fruit Punch”. 

What can you do to avoid these additives?

• Read the ingredient list.  Not all bread, crackers, etc. contain Potassium Bromate.  I just looked at our box of Triscuits, no artificial additives.  Triscuit ingredients are “whole grain wheat, canola oil, sea salt”.  My daughter likes Dave’s Killer Bread English Muffins which also has no potassium bromate.
• Choose real foods.  Real, 100% juice would not have artificial dyes.  However, juice drinks, juice cocktails, fruit drinks, fruit punches often have artificial food coloring.  (See:  Are you drinking real juice or fake juice?).  We switched to using real butter because the margarine had so many ingredients.  (See:  Butter or Margarine? ).  Since butter may be hard to spread, we buy the Land O Lakes Butter with Canola Oil  The ingredients are:  Sweet cream, canola oil and salt.   
• Buy fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. 
• Cook and bake and make your own dishes from scratch.  Then you can control the ingredients. 

Conclusion:  Remember to read food labels carefully, especially the ingredient list.  Choose whole, minimally processed foods when you can.  Opting for a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains can help minimize exposure to additives and promote overall health. 

Sources:  law , states , Why Is Red Dye No. 3 Banned in Cosmetics but Still Allowed in Food? , strengthen the texture of bread , rats , kidney ,  beverages , FDA , , EWG , proposed rule , 2,900 food products , found , article, USA Today  , EWG , Triscuit ingredients , Dave’s Killer Bread English Muffins , Are you drinking real juice or fake juice? , Butter or Margarine?  , Land O Lakes , food labels    Image Sources:  candy , Potassium Bromate ,Triscuit ingredients

What is the buzz about Lunchables?

Lunchables are a very popular lunch kit for kids.  And Lunchables are served in some school lunch rooms.  Consumer Reports is out with an article, Should You Pack Lunchables for Your Kid’s School Lunch?  This article created a firestorm in the media.  The reason is that Consumer Reports found that some of these popular prepackaged meals contain relatively high levels of lead, cadmium, and sodium.  

What products did the Consumer Reports test?

They tested 12 store-bought Lunchables and similar prepackaged meal kits for lead and used the food label for sodium content. CR measured lead in terms of percentage of California’s maximum allowable dose level.  The sodium % is the percentage of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.  What products were tested and what are the lead and sodium percentages? (Table adapted from Lead and Sodium in Lunch Products .)

Lunchable	Lead %	Sodium %
Lunchables Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers	74	49
Lunchables Pizza with Pepperoni	73	45
Lunchables Extra Cheesy Pizza	69	34
Armour LunchMakers Cracker Crunchers Ham & American	67	45
Armour LunchMakers Cracker Crunchers Turkey & American	44	40
Good & Gather (Target) Uncured Ham and Cheddar Cheese Lunch Kit	57	33
Good & Gather (Target) Smoked Turkey and Cheddar Cheese Lunch Kit	30	34
Greenfield Natural Meat Co. Smoked Turkey & Cheese Lunch Kit	37	35
Oscar Meyer Natural Honey Smoked Turkey Breast	24	46
Oscar Mayer Natural Hickory Smoked Uncured Ham	21	46
P3 Turkey Ham Cheddar (A better option as lower in lead and sodium.)	10	36
P3 Turkey Colby Jack Almonds (A better option as lower in lead and sodium.)	7	31

What did Consumer Reports Find?

• Highly Processed Meat:  Registered Dietitian Amy Keating states, “There’s a lot to be concerned about in these kits. They’re highly processed, and regularly eating processed meat, a main ingredient in many of these products, has been linked to increased risk of some cancers.”  (For more about processed foods, see Is your favorite snack an ultra-processed food? ) 
• Sodium:  The sodium content in the kits raised concerns as the amounts ranged from 460-740 milligrams per serving.  This equates to about 25% to nearly 50% of a of a child’s daily recommended limit for sodium.
• Lead and cadmium:   Finding these in the meal kits are particularly concerning because they are classified as probable human carcinogens, and there is no safe level of lead consumption for kids according to CDC.  None of the meal kits exceeded legal limits but the amounts are concerning.  As one news caster said, if a kit contains 74% of the maximum amount of lead in one serving, what if a child ate 2 meal kits?  Lead as a % of the maximum allowable dose level, ranged from a low of 10% in P3 lunch kit to a high of 74% in Lunchable Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers.
• Phthalates:  All but one of the meal kits contained this chemical.  According to CDC, phthalates are used in plastics and have “affected the reproductive system in animals”.   EWG notes phthalates “are associated with health harms, including risk of cancer, asthma, and allergies, and learning attention and behavioral difficulties in children”. 

What did Consumer Reports recommend?

Based on these findings, a chemist at Consumer Reports suggested these products should not be considered a healthy school lunch option and advises against their regular consumption. 

Conclusion:  Parents of children may want to review the report and see the findings for themselves.  There are so many alternative lunch options for kids like the tried-and-true peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Why not make your own healthy lunch kit?  For ideas, see my blog post, What are some healthy lunches for at home or to pack?  For even more lunch ideas, Eat This, Not That! Has over 70 healthy lunch ideas for you to try.  

 

 

Sources:  Should You Pack Lunchables for Your Kid’s School Lunch? , products , states , Is your favorite snack an ultra-processed food? , sodium , Finding these , Lead , CDC , notes , findings , chemist , What are some healthy lunches for at home or to pack? , healthy lunch ideas  Image sources:  Homemade Lunchables , Launchables , PB and J  sandwich