Personal Injury Law

FDA Needs to Be More Strict With Bottled Water

Posted by: Salvatore Zambri, Esquire

Congressional hearings took place yesterday that were focused on multiple reports that found that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap-water more carefully than the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does bottled water.  According to the Wall Street Journal (7/9, Zhang), "The Food and Drug Administration, which oversees the $11.2 billion" bottled water industry, "doesn't keep track of companies that produce bottled water and doesn't require companies to report positive tests for contaminants, federal officials told a House hearing Wednesday. Consumer advocates testified before the Energy and Commerce Committee's oversight and investigations panel that bottlers should be required to disclose more information to consumers."

The report further noted that Joshua M. Sharfstein, FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner, "testified that the agency regulates bottled water as a food and doesn't know which companies among registered food firms make bottled water. Moreover, he said, the FDA has limited power to require more information on labels, and he put in a pitch for legislation that would boost the FDA's funding and authority for food safety."  A similar report can be found in the New York Times (7/9, Fuller).

Unfortunately, the FDA does not have the resources to adequately evaluate the safety of medicines and products.  An FDA approval by no means assures that the product or medicine approved is actually safe.  Be careful before using any product and always speak with your doctor before taking any medication.

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Full post as published by DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog on July 09, 2009 (boomark / email).