• The Trade Inspection Authority checked 437 batches of natural mineral water, spring water and beverages commonly referred to as “flavoured water”.
• The inspectors have found irregularities in 44 batches in total (10.1% of all products checked).
• The primary irregularities are the differences between stated and actual anion and cation count, misleading information on labels as well as presence of out-of-date products in stores.

The Trade Inspection Authority examined mineral water, spring water and beverages commonly referred to as “flavoured water”.

“Consumers often fail to realise that the so-called “flavoured water” is a type of beverage containing sugar or sweeteners as well as artificial flavours. When picking our mineral or spring water, we should always read the labels carefully” – says Marek Niechciał, President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, adding that UOKiK will continue to monitor this market on an ongoing basis.

Issues with one in ten bottles of water

The most recent audit took place in Q3, 2017 in 45 supermarkets, 25 smaller stores and
10 wholesale outlets all across Poland. Inspectors checked a number of factors, including how the water bottles were labelled, whether they were not out of date and in what conditions they were stored. Some of the products were examined in laboratories, where testing was carried out to determine their composition and other characteristics thereof.

The inspectors checked 437 batches of products, finding various irregularities in 44 batches in total (10.1% of all products checked). These irregularities included the following issues:

• In 15 batches out of 80 examined in laboratory conditions, the content of certain anions and cations was different to that stated on the packaging,
• 15 batches in 3 different stores were out of date,
• 14 batches featured incorrect labelling.

Examples of incorrect labelling:

1. Provision of contradictory information on the labels: the front label said “low CO₂ saturation”, while the back label said “high CO₂ saturation”.
2. The use of the phrase “unique composition of 7 minerals”. This marketing catchphrase suggests that the given water is exceptional in some way; however, in fact this feature is nothing special at all, since every mineral water has a mineral content unique to the given spring.
3. The use of the misleading phrase “carbonated water” (designated as “lemon-flavoured”) on the price tag; in reality, the product in question was a beverage and not water.
4. Lack of indication “contains sugar and sweeteners” next to the name of the beverage.

Following the completion of the audit, 3 undertakings received fines, with four sets of administrative proceedings being initiated. 19 cases were reported to sanitary control authorities or the province inspection authorities tasked with the monitoring of the quality of agricultural products and foodstuffs.

Be careful what you buy:

• Natural mineral water – water originating from underground springs, initially free of any chemical or microbiological impurities. Depending on its composition, mineral water may be beneficial to our health and may be recommended for cases of specific ailments or diet. Natural mineral water can be subdivided into several categories depending on mineral salt content: very low mineral content (up to 50 mg/l), low mineral content (up to 500 mg/l), medium mineral content (between 500 and 1,500 mg/l) and high mineral content (over 1,500 mg/l). Remember to check whether the label states the name of the water spring and the town or city where it is located.
• Spring water – water from underground springs, initially free of any chemical or microbiological impurities. In most cases, spring water has a very low mineral content, which means that it may be consumed in any quantity.
• Table water – mineral or spring water – or a mixture thereof – enriched or prepared using appropriate minerals or chemical compounds.
• “Flavoured water”, which is not really water, but a beverage. In most cases, it is obtained by mixing water and juice and/or flavouring substances as well as sugar and/or sweeteners.
• Remember to inspect the labels carefully. By doing so, you will learn, among others, what type of water or beverage you’re about to purchase, what anions and cations are present in the given type of mineral water, what are its origins as well as what substances and sugar content are present in the given beverage.
• In case of any doubts, please contact the Trade Inspection Authority.

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Phone: 695 902 088
E-mail: [SCODE]Yml1cm9wcmFzb3dlQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL