PepsiCo: Aquafina is indeed not a mineral water

July 31, 2007 07:53:05 Source: Morning News

In a company called "Enterprise Thanks to the efforts of the non-governmental organization Accountability International, PepsiCo recently admitted that its best-selling bottled drinking water brand Aquafina actually uses the same public water source as tap water. PepsiCo will clarify this fact by revising its trademark.

"Corporate Responsibility International" spokesperson Patti Lynn said in an interview with a reporter from the Morning News yesterday that the "Snow Mountain" logo used on the packaging of Aquafina is suspected of misleading consumers, making people think that this water is From the mountains.

“The trademark is suspected of misleading consumers”

Linn told reporters that after asking PepsiCo, they received a positive answer. This best-selling bottled drinking water in the US market uses It is indeed a public water source like tap water, but because there is a picture of "snow mountain" on the trademark, many people think that this is a kind of "mineral water".

Lynn said that although no formal market research was conducted, "thousands of people we asked responded that they thought it was a mineral water." "In fact, they drank it. It's just ordinary drinking water that has been purified, not the 'snow mountain spring water' shown on the package. "

"Corporate Responsibility International" is a non-governmental organization that prevents consumer interests from being infringed upon by large companies. On July 26, the organization announced that PepsiCo has officially admitted that the Aquafina water they produce uses the same public water source as ordinary tap water, and they are preparing to change the new trademark before the end of the year to clarify the facts.

Lynn told reporters that, with the exception of PepsiCo, 40% of bottled water in the US market uses the same public water sources as ordinary tap water. "To some extent, they are all suspected of misleading consumers, and consumers must be informed of the truth."

Pepsi will revise product trademarks in due course

PepsiCo spokesperson Mi Sher Norton said on the 27th, "If doing so helps clarify the fact that (Aquafina) water comes from public water sources, then this is a reasonable thing."

Although PepsiCo admits that Aquafina water is obtained from public water sources, the company introduced on Aquafina's official website that Aquafina uses a unique filtration technology called "7-layer filtration method". The technology can filter out impurities that most other bottled water cannot, so that consumers drink 100% pure water.

The current packaging of Aquafina uses the words "Purified Drinking Water" (Purified Drinking Water). PepsiCo said that they will indicate on new products that the product comes from "Public Water Source" (Public Water Source) Water Source).

Other companies have also taken "corrective" measures

In addition to PepsiCo, Coca-Cola's Dasani brand drinking water and Nestlé North America's PureLife brand drinking water have also been cited by the "Corporate Responsibility International Organization" It is considered to be misleading to consumers.

However, Coca-Cola said that although Dasani also comes from public water sources, it uses "reverse osmosis" filtration technology and strengthens the minerals in the water. Therefore, "we do not think consumers will be interested in Dasani." The source of the water is confusing," said Coca-Cola spokesperson Diana Kaza Shiranti. She also said the label on Dasani's product clearly stated that it was purified water.

However, it is reported that Coca-Cola will publish relevant information online in late summer or early autumn this year to explain the company's quality control system for Dasani water.

Responding to questions from Corporate Responsibility International

, Nestlé also announced on the 27th that it has begun printing a new trademark for PureLife drinking water. The new label will indicate whether the water comes from a city public water source or another underground source. It is reported that PureLife’s new trademark will be used starting later this year.

Civil organizations say bottled water pollutes the environment

Some environmental organizations in the United States believe that large-scale production and use of bottled water will pollute the environment and waste energy. They said that plastic bottles discarded after use of bottled water pollute the environment, and production companies consume a lot of energy during production and transportation.

Currently, some cities in the United States have passed regulations not to use bottled water when clean tap water is available. For example, the mayor of San Francisco announced last month that it would be prohibited to use public funds to purchase bottled water. New York City has also launched a "self-flush" campaign, calling on people to buy less bottled water and bring their own bottle of clean tap water.