This blog has recently highlighted the debate in the United States over proper food labels, but there are similar issues surrounding bottled water companies. According to a KCET article, it is becoming more common to see foods with multiple locations listed as their origin. The plastic containers for that refreshing liquid though, are beginning to have similar labels.
The news source cited research from Peter Gleick, an American scientist who has done much research on global water issues. Gleick was able to get Nestle, the makers of Poland Spring, to finally reveal its bottles' contents. As "there's no legal requirement that they say on the label where the water comes from," he said in his research, it was easy enough to dodge the question. However, the company said that less than one-third of the water comes from the actual Poland Spring in Maine.
Additionally, an Environmental Working Group (EWG) survey found that of 173 unique bottled water products, some organizations still remain elusive to what is actually in their water.
"Overall, 18 percent of bottled waters fail to list the location of their source, and 32 percent disclose nothing about the treatment or purity of the water," the EWG said in a blog post on their website.
Research from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) had similar findings in a four-year study of the bottled water industry. According to the NRDC, roughly 22 percent of the water tested contained contaminant levels that exceeded strict state health limits.
With consumers wanting clear labels for their food, it is likely that they desire similar descriptions for bottled water. Labels for water bottles can easily be created with a color label printer, ensuring that the designs are eye-catching and the information accurate.