THAT WATER POUCH MIGHT GIVE YOU A STOMACH ACHE

Stopping at a roadside vendor to grab a pouch of chilled mineral water to quench your thirst? Think twice, or maybe never. Quality control tests on 32 samples of water pouches being sold in the city revealed that nearly 30 per cent of the water pouches are substandard. The samples have been declared unsuitable primarily due to high content of strains of the Escherichia coli (E. Coli) bacteria and other aerobic microbial content that can cause serious food poisoning, said officials of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. According to AMC, the unhygienic spaces where the water is packaged leads to contamination. “E. Coli is a major contributor to food poisoning whereas aerobic microbes cause various gastrointestinal problems,” explained an AMC official. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official added that water samples are tested under 22 different parameters which calculate the iron, sulphide, lead content along with colour, taste and PH value. Of these 22 parameters, E. Coli culture and aerobic microbial count are of paramount importance as they determine whether the water can be consumed. The AMC conducts a quality check each summer as consumption of packaged water is optimum at this time.

Can cause gastro problems: docs 

According to AMC Food Inspector Rakesh Ghame the samples were collected from packaged drinking water units and the water at some of these units was substandard, though not unsafe. “Substandard quality water is relatively safe to drink; however, hygiene is not maintained while packaging the water. Around 98 per cent substandard water samples show aerobic microbial activity whereas around 2 per cent per cent show E. Coli.” AMC Lab Technician Atul Soni said, “The packaging units do not take care of hygiene and as a result, aerobic microbial activity is seen in the water which can later cause gastrointestinal problems. E. Coli on the other hand results in food poisoning.” Director of Indian Institute of Public Health, Dr Dilip Mavalankar, said, “The bacteria and the virus if ingested, can cause digestive problems, nausea and other health problems. Both pathogens are dangerous as it can cause cholera, jaundice and other waterborne diseases and can cause an outbreak.”

How do we identify unsafe water: Amdavadis 

Substandard packaged water remains a matter of concern for Amdavadis. “The water looks clean, tastes clean. How can we know if the water is contaminated,” asks city-based engineer Nirav Raval who was shocked to hear the results of the test. Entrepreneur Jaimin Gondaliya who has to travel extensively for work and prefers to buy water pouches instead of bottles added, “I buy pouches to avoid wastage. With packaged water, we assume it is hygienic and safe. But now that I know of the test results, it seems I should stick to carrying boiled water from home with me.” He further added that the units that do not follow strict code of hygiene should be penalized.

‘Strong immune system’ 

However, there are also people who feel that these results are no big deal. Shagun Bhat, student of Calorx Teachers’ University told Mirror, “Despite being a health enthusiast, I regularly drink water from pouches. I have never fallen ill. Yes, once a water pouch I bought tasted strange. I just threw it away and bought a new one. I guess I have a strong immune system” Theatre actor Kailash Shahdadpuri who is a frequent traveller depends on the water pouches, irrespective of where he is. “I often drink water outside, be it from packaged bottles or pouches as they are convenient. I have never faced any health issues.” NIFT student Trishla Lakhani meanwhile, nips the issue in the bud. “I make it a point to carry a water bottle from home and only in rare cases do I buy packaged bottled water. I never go for water pouches as I don’t trust the quality.”

Fine ranges from Rs 5K to Rs 2 L, say AMC officials 

According to Ghame, the packaging units packaging substandard water are fined and action taken against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Depending on the quality of water, AMC levies fines in the range of Rs 2,000 to Rs 5 lakh. “However, in the last three years none of the water bottling plants has been fined as the case against them is pending in the district collectorate office,” said Ghame.