Recent lawsuits claim that water bottlers like Arrowhead, Evian, and Poland Spring are misleading customers about the purity of their "natural" bottled water, which contains microplastics.
Joseph Winters reports for Grist.
In short:
- Six lawsuits allege that bottled water marketed as "natural" contains harmful microplastics, misleading consumers.
- Research has shown widespread microplastic contamination in bottled water, raising health concerns like heart disease and reproductive issues.
- The legal cases argue that labels such as "100 percent mountain spring water" are deceptive due to the presence of microplastics.
Key quote:
“Microplastics and nanoplastics are found throughout the environment in our soil, air, and water, and their presence is a complex and evolving area of science.”
— Evian spokesperson
Why this matters:
This issue highlights the broader challenge of microplastic pollution, which affects not just bottled water but our entire food and beverage supply, posing significant health risks. Addressing it requires systemic changes, including stricter regulations and a shift towards sustainable packaging. Read more: Are microplastics invading the male reproductive system?
