Samples of 20 litre bubble top packaged water lifted from Coimbatore were tested ‘not conforming to standards’ in microbiological examinations conducted by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently.
Food safety officials here said that the main deformity found in the samples was high presence of chlorine.
Of the ten samples collected and tested from Coimbatore, two have been found not conforming to standards even after two rounds of examination.
According to FSSAI officials, seven out of the ten samples collected were initially tested positive for inordinate presence of microbiological organisms and chlorine. The seven units were served closure notice. However, three units moved court and obtained permission to improve their standards.
FSSAI later allowed the remaining four units to open their plants and improve their quality.
“Samples were collected for a second time from the three units that approached court. However, two of them did not conform to standards,” said O.L.S. Vijay, designated officer, FSSAI, Coimbatore.
Mr. Vijay said that the chlorine level in the two samples tested in the second time was more than 300 ppm (parts per million) whereas the permitted level is 2 ppm.
According to food safety officials, the main reason for high presence of chlorine in the water was improper filtering during the bottling process. They said that the bottling units often compromised to change the membrane used for filtering raw water.
“The cost of the membrane ranges from ₹ 50,000 to ₹ 1 lakh. Hence bottling units use the membrane for a longer period which affects the filtering process. The membrane need to be changed at frequent intervals based on the volume of water filtered,” said a food safety official.
FSSAI is planning to conduct an education and awareness programme for bottling units selling drinking water in 20 litre bubble top containers.
“There are 74 units bottling and selling drinking water in 20 litre containers. They will be called for an awareness session covering all aspects of the filtration and bottling process,” said Mr. Vijay.
