Stiftung Warentest Three of 20 mineral waters tested with impurities

Stiftung Warentest: Above-ground contamination of mineral waters 
Mineral water is considered a consistently healthy drink that is well suited to cover the daily fluid requirements. To meet the high quality standards of consumers, the mineral water according to the provisions of the mineral and table water regulation originally pure and the source must be protected from contamination, says the Stiftung Warentest. Critical is therefore the detection of above-ground impurities in three tested natural mineral waters in the current test of the Foundation.

Unlike tap water, natural mineral waters should not be treated to remove unwanted substances. Only a few treatment methods, such as the removal of iron, are permitted for mineral water, according to the Stiftung Warentest. The natural purity is in the foreground here. However, the Stiftung Warentest has detected contamination with sweeteners, degradation products of pesticides and a corrosion inhibitor in their current test in three out of 20 natural mineral waters. Although these are not dangerous to health, they are an indication of insufficiently protected sources. The results of the study were published in the June issue of the journal "test".

Mineral water should of course be pure, but some brands meet this requirement only conditionally. (Image: Lupo / pixelio.de)

Corrosion inhibitors, sweeteners and degradation products of pesticides
The ingredients of the natural mineral water are significantly influenced by the minerals and trace elements of the rock layers, which has flowed through the water. Therefore, plain water usually contains less mineral substances than water from mountainous regions, according to Stiftung Warentest. However, the water absorbs other unwanted substances on its way, which can not be removed afterwards with natural mineral water. In their current study, the testers found above-ground impurities in three out of 20 mineral waters. "Even very well-known brands are no guarantee for absolutely pure mineral water," according to the Stiftung Warentest. They discovered in the water brands "Original Selters Classic", "Harzer Grauhof Medium" and "Glashäger Classic" critical ingredients such as rust inhibitors, degradation products of pesticides and sweeteners.

Six out of 20 mineral waters were completely convincing
Although the microbiological specifications of the mineral and table water regulation were met by all products, no problems were to be expected in healthy people. "But two medium waters could be critical for immune deficiency because of the germ findings and should therefore be boiled better," says Stiftung Warentest. The good news of the current test, however, is that six of the 20 natural mineral waters - three each with medium and high carbonation - were able to perform well in all test points. Furthermore, the testers found that, compared to mineral waters from discounters and supermarkets, classic branded waters contained significantly more minerals on average.

Mandatory limit values ​​required
The reaction of the manufacturers on the current investigation of the Stiftung Warentest remains to be seen, however, had in recent tests, the Association of German Mineral Wells expressed critical to comparable test results, since the Stiftung Warentest allegedly created the wrong standards. In fact, there is no common legal regulation so far, which is why the Verband Deutscher Mineralbrunnen also advocated the introduction of binding limit values ​​by the EU. The fact that the standards of Stiftung Warentest could easily be met, however, is shown by the six consistently convincing mineral waters in the current test. (Fp)