Packaged drinking water test by FDA highlights dubious safety claims

A survey conducted in 2017 found 15 packaged water drinking samples unsafe for human consumption in Maharashtra of the 136 samples drawn by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) of packaged drinking water from Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amaravati, Nagpur and Pune between March 1, 2016, and April 31, 2017. 48 samples of those collected were found to be of poor quality while labels on some of the bottles were found tampered. The prime concern was that the samples tested unsafe for human consumption.

“They mainly had bacterial contamination, which can cause gastrointestinal diseases,” said joint commissioner (headquarters),FDA, Chandrashekhar Salunke. “We have filed criminal cases against the plant owners. Of the 15 samples found unsafe, five were drawn from Mumbai followed by Pune (4), Nashik (3), Aurangabad (2) and Amaravati (1),” Salunke said.

In a fresh bottled water test conducted, following the complaint last year, three out of the six packaged drinking water samples collected from Andheri, Sewri and Malad among other areas, were found containing harmful microbes and chlorine.

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The FDA, Maharashtra, had collected six samples last year for testing, after receiving a complaint of contamination and found hazardous chemicals in three of them.

In another instance in Mumbai in 2015, a report of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre had found presence of bromate, a carcinogen, in packaged drinking water. A doctor had then lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, which was carried forward to FSSAI. He had asked the FDA to conduct an investigation. The FDA then collected six samples from different places, such as Andheri, Cotton Green, Sewri and Malad, that were sent to the state public health laboratory in Pune for analysis.

“As per the report received by FDA Maharashtra, none of the samples was found to have bromate. However, one had pseudomonas aeruginosa and aerobic microbial count, while two samples had high residual-free chlorine,” the FDA report stated.

The joint commissioner of FDA, Shailesh Adhav, said the analysis had confirmed contamination in three samples. “We’ve taken note of the reports and filed a case against the companies. The reports would be produced in court during hearing,” he said, while adding, “We have plans to collect more samples from other parts of the city.”

Adhav also said, “Especially in this season, we appeal to people to carry their own drinking water. At home, they should either boil water before drinking or install a water filter.”

FDA Officials previously also suspect that chemical fertilizers used in agriculture may have percolated into the ground water, which was being used by the plants to make packaged drinking water.

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