Did you know that there’s a podcast about bottled water? The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) recently launched the podcast titled H2O In The Know. Each episode focuses on different water related topics including the current science on hydration, how to increase recycling rates, standards and regulations, and the taste of different types of waters.
Jull Culora, IBWA Vice President of Communication, recently shared that “H2O In The Know offers consumers a great new way to learn interesting facts and stories about water, especially bottled water.” Let’s take a quick look at some of the questions that were discussed in the first episode.
Before we get to the first question, you might be wondering what any of this has to do with you, a Salt Lake City consumer. The answer is…a lot.
Humans need water to survive. Research has shown that humans can last three maybe four days without consuming any water. But, that doesn’t mean that every bit of water on the earth is safe to be consumed. To understand if a certain type of water is good for human consumption, it is important to know more about that type of water. For the bottled water industry, specifically, the answers to the following questions will help Salt Lake City consumers learn more about what they are drinking, and when it comes to things we consume, more knowledge is definitely better.
The short answer is yes, there are. Bottled water is regulated at both the federal and state level and is considered a packaged food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, the FDA regulations governing the safety and quality of bottled water are as stringent as the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations that govern tap water.
Again, the answer is yes. For the standards that focus on bottled water, the FDA has divided them into the following groups.
- Standards of Identity: regulations that define the different types of bottled water
- Standards of Quality: regulations that set maximum levels for contaminants that are allowed
- Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP): regulations that set manufacturing parameters to ensure that food, including snack and beverages, is healthy to consume.
Per the FDA, there are six different types available. They are spring water, purified water, mineral water, sparkling bottled water, artesian water or artesian well water, and well water. To help Salt Lake City consumers know which type of water they have, the FDA also requires that each type of water be clearly printed on the label of each bottle of water.
Now that you’re aware of some of the regulations and standards, use this information to help your Salt Lake City employees by removing a potential concern that they shouldn’t have to think about during their day. Provide them with healthy vending machine beverages and snacks in their break room. For an extra bonus for your employees, offer snacks and beverages at a reduced or zero cost. Not only will they be hydrated and satiated, but morale will get a boost too.
For more information about offering healthy snacks and beverages in your workplace break room, contact Breakroom Choices at 866-Choice9 (866-246-4239). We’ll help you create a customized, healthy menu that is sure to please everyone.
