Saudi Gazette report The bottled water industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. In Saudi Arabia, water is a particularly scarce commodity and while companies that purify, bottle and brand this scarce resource are able to turn in hefty profits, they often fail to abide by the Kingdom's food and safety regulations. Experts say the only way to ensure consumers' health is not being put at risk is to impose tighter regulations on the industry, Al-Riyadh daily reported. The Saudi Food and Drugs Authority (SFDA) regulates factories producing bottled water and ice. Another authority working with the SFDA in this matter is the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs under the Citizens' Health and Safety Department. The SFDA conducts regular visits to bottled water factories in order to ensure the safety and legality of all water purification, bottling and storage processes. In 2013, it inspected 1,600 sites and issued 5,350 warnings, 318 of which were passed on to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through the Gulf Rapid Alert System for Food. Mohammad Almahrous, a researcher and consultant in clinical microbiology and genetic engineering, emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced chemical formula in bottled water. “All factories should be aware that any violations of health regulations will render the product unsuitable for drinking. In addition to what regulating authorities are already doing, there should be a committee concerned with inspecting the chemical composition of the product by collecting random samples from bottled water on store shelves and analyzing and documenting them,” he said. Mohammad Ali, a consumer, began drinking bottled water nearly a decade ago. He said more attention and emphasis should be given to the way companies store water. “If water bottles are left under the sun for long periods of time, the water becomes unsuitable for drinking. The taste and smell of the water change and it gains a citrusy tinge,” he said. When exposed to direct sunlight, plastic bottles release a chemical known as bisphenol-A (BPA) into the water. The BPA is known to reduce sperm count and increase the risk of certain types of cancers. Nutritionist Dr. Rida Alaseef said consuming unhealthy water can be extremely damaging to the health and, in some cases, exasperate pre-existing conditions. “Conditions like sickle-cell anemia depend on the accurate proportion of chemicals in water as it directly goes into their red blood cells in order to facilitate the pumping of blood through the blood vessels,” she said, while adding that people should at least take three liters of water every day to facilitate urination and the cleansing of uric acids from the kidneys. Mohammad Alsufian, spokesperson of the Eastern Province Municipality, said the municipality is very strict when it comes to adherence to health regulations. “Violating regulations can result in the permanent closure of the offending factory or store. In fact, the Environmental Health Department in the municipality organized an inspection campaign of factories, especially food-producing factories. Any violations such as usage of expired ingredients, unsuitable storage rooms and temperature, existence of pests and insects, or any lack of adherence to rules and regulations were reported and penalties were handed out,” he said. In total, the municipality conducted 345 inspection visits, during which 1,061 violations were documented, 311 warnings issued and 61 rectification contracts signed. Total fines amounted to SR143,400.
