FSSAI Classifies Packaged Drinking Water as High-Risk, Mandates Annual Safety Audits

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has classified packaged drinking water in the ‘high-risk’ food category, making its annual third-party food safety audit mandatory with effect from November 29.

How pure or free from contamination packaged water is continues to prick the state’s consumers. The mushrooming growth of water treatment units seems to have created health hazards in the state. Retailers, right from pan shops to departmental stores, sell bottled water under different names. In Guwahati alone, there are around 50 water treatment units. Such units have been spreading to other urban areas in the state as well with the increase in demand for bottled water.

According to FSSAI, the water treatment units that hold licenses should submit their reports of annual inspection that aim at mitigating potential health risks associated with packaged water. Such a measure is necessitated so as to ensure rigorous quality control. Let alone packaged water, other non-alcoholic soft beverages will now be subject to mandatory annual inspection.

According to sources, all such measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and quality of packaged water in the market plagued by contamination concerns. These measures aim to address growing consumers’ concerns about the safety of packaged water that has been linked to various health risks due to contamination.

An official said, “These regulations will depend on rigorous enforcement. Manufacturers must adhere strictly to a water treatment process that includes filtration, reverse osmosis, and disinfection to ensure that water is free from harmful contamination.”

The official further said, “The consumers should also remain alert and check for certification on packaged water products before purchase. However, consumers often do not follow such norms. Since packaged water of different treatment units floods pan shops, tea shops, restaurants, and hotels, people consume them casually without verifying their ISI marks and other mandatory certifications.”

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