Mineral water recalled in Germany over harmful bacteria
Specifically mineral water from the brands "Gut&Günstig" and "Naturalis Mineralwasser" in the 0.5 litre and 1.5 litre plastic bottle (PET) with specific best-before dates have been recalled.
The reason for the recall was that potentially harmful bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was detected in a samples of water that were tested.
A complete list of "best before" dates (
Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum
) included in the recall, can be found at the food safety warning portal
lebensmittelwarnung.de
.
Information on the website notes that only bottles with the specific best before dates listed there are potentially contaminated, and subject to the recall.
The bacteria that was found is believed to pose some risk of infection in immunocompromised people.
The warning also notes that potentially contaminated products were sold in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia.
The affected products come from the Clara spring in Jessen in Saxony-Anhalt.
Food recalls are not unusual, but the scope of affected products and regions is large in this case.
The recall was officially put into effect on July 9th. But, according to a
report
by
SZ
, Edeka and Netto have not publicised information about the recall on their websites.
Foodwatch has criticised the fact that the exact cause of the contamination and details around the seriousness of the threat were still unclear.
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Consumers who have purchased the affected products (with one of the specified best before dates) can return it to their stores for a refund, even without the receipt.
Last year, in France, Foodwatch had reported Alma and Nestlé for having illegally filtered water from sources contaminated with faeces, PFAS chemicals and pesticides.
Although tap water in Germany is safe and of high quality, many Germans primarily (or only) drink bottled mineral water, which is known to come with significant environmental impacts.
READ ALSO:
Four things to know about tap water in Germany
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