Banning di-hydrogen monoxide?

A while back, comedian magicians Penn and Teller asked several folks at an environmental rally to sign a petition to ban di-hydrogen monoxide.

That’s H20.  Or in layman’s terms, water.

The woman asking people to sign the petition banning water appears to be honest and forthright: di-hydrogen monoxide “is everywhere, and we just need to ban it,” she says.  A “chemical” found in pesticides, she adds.  In our food, in our reservoirs. They are all seemingly true statements, but far from the truth.

Sadly, the people signing the petitions don’t even bother asking what di-hydrogen monoxide is.  They just sign away after hearing someone tell them the “facts.” 

The exercise demonstrates how group-think can become dangerous without knowing the truth.  A similar effort is ongoing in the world of “bottled di-hydrogen monoxide,” where bottled water is being subjected to bans, taxes or other regulations without knowing the background about this responsible beverage choice.

While this story is not about bottled water, it illustrates that the truth about bottled water is vastly different from critics’ claims.  And it is the critical voice that, as shown here, captures the uninformed in their web. 

As the video shows, being a “joiner” can have detrimental, highly adversary effects to what’s on paper.  Get the facts and know what you’re signing before joining onto anything.

“Bottlemania” Dilutes the Real Environmental and Drinking Water Challenges and Opportunities

A new book, “Bottlemania,” used the bottled water industry as a launch-point for what could have been an instructive view on the importance of drinking water and environmental protection and sustainability.  Rather, the book presents a misinformed, slanted view of the bottled water industry that will only confuse consumers who choose the healthy benefits of bottled water and misdirect what should be an all-encompassing, science-based approach to environmental policy. 

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) stands ready to assist journalists prepare their bottled coverage.  As the authoritative voice on all issues concerning the bottled water industry, IBWA is the leading resource for bottled water information and facts and can provide access to staff experts in a variety of areas, as well as independent third-party experts for interviews and expertise on water related topics, including: 

• bottled water industry leadership in environmental stewardship including resource usage (e.g., ground water, recycling)
• hydration, health and nutrition;
• bottled water’s role as a consumer beverage-of-choice
• bottled water and drinking water regulatory, safety and quality issues.

Consider this…

• People recognize the importance of water consumption for hydration and refreshment and that should be encouraged.  Many consumers likely drink both bottled water and tap water depending on the circumstances; it does not always amount to a tap water versus bottled water choice.
• Bottled water is growing in popularity because people appreciate its consistent quality, taste, and convenience and choose bottled water over the other beverages because it does not contain calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial flavors or colors, alcohol and other ingredients.
• The bottled water industry supports improvements to our nation’s water infrastructure.  The fact is that bottled water companies that utilize municipal water systems are rate-payers; their production and sales have no relationship to water infrastructure challenges.  And, just as local governments invest in providing safe municipal drinking water, bottled water companies invest many millions of dollars in developing water sources, production plants, packaging, and safety and quality measures.  Yet, bottled water is available at a variety of price points, with an average per-gallon cost of $1.64, according to A.C. Nielsen. 
• The bottled water industry is a leader in the food and beverage industry in reducing its environmental footprint while, at the same time, delivering the healthful value of bottled water.  All bottled water containers are recyclable packaging and use lighter-weight materials than other beverages.
• The bottled water industry is working with other beverage and food producers, municipalities, and recycling advocacy groups to continually increase recycling.  Further, the bottled water industry is considered one of the original recyclers as the larger containers used on bottled water coolers may be used repeatedly and recycled at the end of their useful service. 
• Solely focusing on bottled water is not the right approach to implement effective environmental policies; broad ranging, comprehensive solutions that cover all consumer goods are. 
• Annual bottled water production accounts for less than 2/100 of a percent (0.02%) of the total ground water withdrawn in the United States each year.  The bottled water industry uses minimal amounts of groundwater to produce this important consumer product-and does so with great efficiency.  Visit the web site of the Drinking Water Research Foundation (www.dwrf.info) for a study summary of the report, “Bottled Water Production in the United States: How Much Ground Water is Actually Being Used?”
• Even though it is a minimal groundwater user and is one of among thousands of food, beverage and commercial water users, bottled water companies actively support comprehensive ground water management practices that are science-based, treat all users equitably, multi-jurisdictional, and provide for future needs of this important resource.
• Bottled water is comprehensively regulated as a packaged food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which mandates stringent standards to help ensure bottled water’s consistent safety, quality and good taste.  By law, FDA bottled water standards must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for municipal drinking water systems.
•  All plastics (and other materials) intended for contact with foods or beverages, including bottled water, are regulated by FDA to help assure their safety.  The materials used in all bottled water containers are shown to be safe through extensive laboratory testing.
• FDA comprehensively regulates the safety of food, including bottled water, by carefully reviewing food and beverage packaging materials before allowing them on the market.  As part of its review, FDA assesses the migration potential of plastics and the substances with which they are made.
• FDA allows food-contact plastics for their intended use based on safety data. The process includes stringent requirements for estimating the levels at which such materials may transfer to the diet. FDA’s safety criteria require extensive toxicity testing for any substance that may be ingested at more than negligible levels. This means FDA has affirmatively determined that, when plastics are used as intended in food-contact applications, the nature and amount of substances that may migrate, if any, are safe.
• Bottled water companies respond with efficiency and speed with regard to provide bottled water in coordination with emergency relief operations. The bottled water industry provides millions of bottled water servings in response to natural and man-made disasters each year.
•  More than 60 percent of the International Bottled Water Association’s membership is made up of small businesses with annual sales of less than $1 million and a few employees. The overwhelming majority have sales of less than $10 million.

Where does it stop?

When opponents of bottled water such as Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels attempt to stop its consumption, where does it end?

The question is asked by Knute Berger at Crosscut.com in Seattle, who appears to be one of many local residents fed up with the crackdowns in the city, home of Starbucks and a large chunk of Boeing:

The city has tried to control what types of alcohol can be sold where, it’s cracked down on loud music, smoking, it wants to start charging you for using the “wrong” type of grocery bags, it wants to eliminate fast food from the city, it has employees inspecting your garbage to see if you’re obeying recycling laws, and our elected leaders are just chomping at the bit to start tracking where you drive and when so they can charge you by the mile. Big Nanny is watching.

As Berger puts it: if drinking bottled water is bad, how can Nickels feel OK about “exporting Boeing aircraft and war machines”?

Which do you think has a bigger impact on greenhouse gases? Which uses more oil?

 And lest we forget the one thing most Americans can’t live without: Starbucks.

How much carbon is burned and how much greenhouse gas emitted getting those beans here?

The truth here is, like it or not, the creation of anything bought by a consumer is going to burn some greenhouse gases or make its own negative impact on the environment: planes, coffee, bottled water. 

But responsible companies like Boeing, Starbucks and a host businesses in the bottled water industry are doing their best to mitigate those impacts with eco-friendly production and obeying federal regulations.

So when naysayers such as Mayor Nickels begin picking and choosing what we can and cannot buy or consume, the questions put forth by Crosscut make sense: When does it end?

IBWA support for FDA funding increases

INTERNATIONAL BOTTLED WATER ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS FDA FUNDING INCREASES IN FY 2008 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL LEGISLATION 

The Bottled Water Industry is a Model of Successful FDA Food Safety Regulation  

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) supports the inclusion of a proposed $275 million increase for funding the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  As part of Sen. Robert C. Byrd’s (D-WV) FY 2008 Emergency Supplemental, consumers would benefit from an FDA funding increase to enhance food safety programs.  Bottled water is a packaged food product regulated by FDA, which mandates standards for production, health, packaging, and labeling. 

IBWA President and CEO Joe Doss said, “Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Sen. Byrd have shown great foresight in increasing FDA funding to give the Agency the power it needs to help maintain the world’s safest and most reliable food supply.  A vote ‘yes’ to increased FDA funding is a vote for the future of safe food in America.” 

In a June 2007 industry presentation, FDA Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection David Acheson, M.D. said, “IBWA… demonstrated a successful model of partnership between FDA and a regulated food industry to address vulnerabilities. One of the lessons learned from these food defense efforts is the importance of active involvement by the industry’s trade association.” 

For an overview of bottled water regulations and standards, environmental facts, and other bottled water information, visit the IBWA web site at www.bottledwater.org.

The facts for the vendors

Automatic Merchandiser (amonline.com) this week considers the opposition against bottled water and recommends vendors retailers of bottled water and other items educate themselves on the facts.

For years, soda and other beverages have been bottled in plastic, but once water in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles came on the scene, the war began between environmentalists and plastics.

Interestingly enough, the concern about plastic packaging does not extend to soda, energy drinks or other products.

The article delves into a number of topics surrounding bottled water, and is well worth reading – but only if you want to know the facts about this responsible, convenient and healthy beverage choice.

Are we just supposed to not drink water at all?

The Washington Post yesterday outlined “some things to consider” if you are worried about trace amounts of pharmaceuticals found in the tap water supply.  One of the most egregiously false “tips” mentioned:

Don’t switch to bottled water.  “Since our bottled water comes from the same aquifers and municipal water systems as our tap water, and since [most] bottled water is not even tested for these chemicals, switching to bottled water makes no sense,” says Colin Beavan, who writes the eco-blog No Impact Man. Besides, residue from the bottles themselves may be worse than whatever lurks in tap water, not to mention the carbon footprint and plastic waste created in their manufacturing.

So if they say tap water is unsafe and bottled water is too, are we supposed to just not drink any water at all?

Of course not. 

It should first be mentioned that the “source” the Post uses is an individual who takes extreme measures to cut back on his personal carbon footprint.  Fair enough, but taking his viewpoints as facts while ignoring the science is inappropriate, particularly for a publication such as the Post.

Here are the facts:

Not all bottled water comes from the same source as tap water.  And that which does is not just tap water in a bottle.  Some water does come from the same aquifers and systems as your tap, however, bottled water companies use a multi-barrier approach to further help ensure safety of their products. 

Consumers can remain confident in choosing bottled water as companies that produce it go to great lengths to protect and monitor the source and put the water through treatments such as reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration and other purification techniques, and ozonation or ultraviolet (UV) light. 

The combination of FDA and state regulations, along with a multi-barrier approach and other protective measures ensures safety of the products.

Perhaps the following quote should have been contained in the article beside Mr. Beavan’s.  From Yale University School of Medicine Stephen C. Edberg, Ph.D., ABMM:

“The technical and safety measures used to produce and process bottled water are extremely effective in protecting the product from these and other substances that were reported in the [original March Associated Press article on pharmaceuticals in the national drinking water supply], should they be present in source water to begin with.  This report raises no concern for the safety of bottled water.”

Official response from Bottled Water industry re: U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council Meeting

IBWA POSITION STATEMENT

May 2, 2008

BOTTLED WATER INDUSTRY RESPONSE TO U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS’ WATER COUNCIL MEETING

 
The US Conference of Mayors (USCM) on May 1, 2008 convened in New York City a joint meeting of the USCM Mayors Water Council and the Municipal Waste Management Association, an environmental affiliate of USCM, to examine new information on the economic and public health benefits of local government investment in municipal water and sewer infrastructure and services.  The meeting was a follow-up to directives in the USCM Resolution No. 90, which encouraged the compilation of information regarding the importance of municipal water and the alleged “impact of bottled water on municipal waste.” 
 
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has been-and will continue to be–supportive of the USCM initiative by participating in the USCM fact-finding process and sharing detailed information that demonstrates the important role of bottled water as a healthy beverage-of-choice; the industry’s outstanding commitment to recycling, environmental stewardship, and protection and sustainability of natural resources; and the comprehensive US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state regulations and industry standards that help ensure bottled water safety and quality.  IBWA Chairman Chris Saxman (Shenandoah Valley Water Co.) addressed the USCM Mayors Water Council at its May 1st meeting and has committed IBWA expertise to help ensure that bottled water facts are fully available to the mayors.
 
IBWA supports improvements to our nation’s water infrastructure and, in the event user fees or other funding mechanisms are put in place, would consider supporting funding of those improvements via rate increases that treat all rate payers equally.  The fact is that bottled water companies that utilize municipal water systems are rate-payers; their production and sales have no relationship to water infrastructure challenges.  And, just as local governments invest in providing safe municipal drinking water, bottled water companies invest many millions of dollars in developing water sources, production plants, packaging, and safety and quality measures.  Yet, bottled water is available at a variety of price points, with an average per-gallon cost of $1.64, according to A.C. Nielsen.

Stringent Regulation:

• FDA mandates stringent standards to help ensure bottled water’s safety, quality, and good taste.
• By law, FDA bottled water standards must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for municipal drinking water systems.
• Bottled water is sourced from both natural groundwater as well as municipal sources.  FDA and state governments recognize municipal water systems as a legitimate and valid source for bottled water production and have specific labeling and other standards to help ensure consumers are aware of the type of bottled water they choose. 

It’s About Choice, Not Bottled Water Versus Tap Water:

• IBWA is concerned as the USCM report frames the issue as a “bottled water versus tap water” debate, possibly causing confusion and discouraging consumer choice of this important bottled beverage.
• Studies have shown that 75 percent of consumers drink both bottled water and tap water depending on the circumstances; it does not always amount to a tap water versus bottled water choice as people are not uniformly replacing municipal drinking water with bottled water.
• Consumers choose bottled water as an alternative to other packaged beverages because it does not contain calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial flavors or colors, alcohol and other ingredients and provides convenient refreshment and hydration.

Bottled Water Part of the Recycling Solution:

• Plastic beverage bottles are among the most recycled packaging in this country and all bottled water containers are recyclable, where facilities exist.
• Rather than focusing on one beverage product, it would make more sense for government officials to focus on improving recycling rates for all consumer packaging.
• Packaging is a critical part of the network that delivers products to consumers and is an essential feature of public health and modern life, including bottled water.
• IBWA members are focused on improving the environmental performance of beverage containers.  Overall, the bottled water industry, like many others in the food and beverage industry, works to reduce its environmental footprint, including the use of lighter-weight plastics for its containers and increasingly fuel efficient means of transporting product to market.
• As with other food and beverage products, consumers demand a variety of choices and types of bottled water, some of which may be produced in other states or overseas.

 Bottled Water and Emergency Relief: 

• In times of water emergencies or disasters, bottled water companies respond with efficiency and speed with regard to provide bottled water in coordination with emergency relief operations.
• The bottled water industry provides millions of bottled water servings in response to natural and man-made disasters each year.  

Conclusion:

 IBWA stands ready to continue its work with the USCM Conference, mayors, and other civic leaders across the country to address the need for safe drinking water and to help promote comprehensive environmental conservation and stewardship policies.

 

Bottled water sales up in restaurants – and that’s a good thing

Despite the best efforts of bottled water industry opponents, subsequent negative press and a slowing economy, bottled water sales in restaurants continued to grow last year, according to the NPD Group.

The Port Washington, NY-based research firm said in the April 14 issue of Restaurant News that quick-service restaurants reported the most growth in bottled water servings.

An NPD analyst told the trade publication that bottled water’s portability, healthfulness, and a growing variety of flavors are keeping the product a popular menu item. 

Bottled water is ranked as one of the top three beverages in terms of incremental-servings growth, with 134 million more servings of bottled water than in 2006, NPD said. Only iced tea and specialty coffee performed better.

FDA: Packaging products containing BPA are safe for consumer use

After recent news spread questioning the safety of plastics that containing the chemical Bisephenol A, or BPA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said it will review “current research and new information on BPA” for all products regulated by the agency, including bottled water.

Check this outfrom the FDA’s Web site:

We believe there is a large body of evidence that indicates that FDA-regulated products containing BPA currently on the market are safe and that exposure levels to BPA from food contact materials, including for infants and children, are below those that may cause health effects.   However, we will continue to consider new research and information as they become available.

The site above also includes what should be a relieving message to any consumer who had concerns about the media reports:

At this time, FDA is not recommending that anyone discontinue using products that contain BPA while we continue our risk assessment process. However, concerned consumers should know that several alternatives to polycarbonate baby bottles exist, including glass baby bottles.

Much ado about nothing

Elizabeth M. Whelan, president of the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org), moonlit a column in the New York Post that cuts through the hysteria and presents the facts regarding plastic packaging use in our everyday products. 

After noting that the questioning the safety of plastic packaging lacks hard research and merit, Whelan further explains:

Psychiatrists tell us that chemicals like BPA and phthalates – unfamiliar to us, and invisible – are the perfect focus for fear. Add claims that they may harm children, and you create the perfect storm of fear and outrage. Decision-making grows irrational, with consumers willing to purge the suspect substance without even considering the safety profile of the alternative chemicals (which may well be less tested).

Scientists largely remain mute while the risks are being hyped and science distorted. Reporters typically don’t call experts who won’t give the desired scare quote – while officials at the FDA and CSPC have to worry about backlash from their political masters. (Neither agency, though on record that BPA and phthalates are safe, has issued updated statements to calm fears.)

Corporations end up caving, abandoning perfectly safe products, because it’s just not worth the money to fight the hysteria. The withdrawals and product-reformulations are extremely costly, leading to higher prices but not an iota of improved safety. Each time it happens, another useful product of technology vanishes.
It all recalls a cartoon I saw years ago: A naked man gazes at his empty closet, exclaiming, “Oh, my – they banned everything.”

The question is: when does it all stop?