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Health and Safety Statement from Harrogate Water Brands

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Following media claims that microplastics were found in bottled water samples outside the UK, Harrogate Water would like to reassure our customers that consumer health and safety is our top priority. We would like to confirm that all natural mineral and spring waters are safe and fully compliant with the strict regulations of UK and EU food and drink legislation.

The FSA (Food Standards Agency) legislate and enforce UK and European law which in turn is guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) food safety body. The framework for WHO is based on sound scientific research by leading world scientific bodies and governments. They have taken the view that this report has no health associated concerns.

Bottled water is subject to significant testing, amounting to several hundreds of thousands of tests each year for every brand of bottled water sold in the UK. It has to be frequently tested at the ingredient level (the source) and finished product level (bottles) and it is not released for sale until the appropriate controls show it is safe for human consumption. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency work closely with both the industry and enforcement officials to ensure that the regulations are robustly enforced.

As part of our good manufacturing practices at Harrogate Water, we adopt a three-stage filtration process. The final stage is at 0.2u (0.0002mm) which guarantees the removal of the micro particles of the size identified in the media report.

We are proud of the heritage and provenance of our natural spring water and quality is our number one priority. The regulatory framework governing our industry in the UK is quite rightly thorough and demanding and the excellence of our own quality regime has been found to be outstanding by external independent auditors time and time again.

The report originates from US-based Orb Media, which was behind a controversial report in 2017 which claimed world tap water supplies, including those in the UK and Europe, contained microplastics. Orb Media claims to produce a “new kind of journalism” and says on its website: “Our reinvented editorial process enables us to serve our human community.” Critics claim their methods are questionable because their research is based on single chosen scientists whose work is not shared, peer reviewed or validated, as is the case in this latest report pertaining to bottled water.

The International Bottled Water Association said it had asked Orb Media for a copy of its research but that this request had been refused. “In light of this, IBWA is limited in its ability to provide an informed response to what appears to be an unsubstantiated and non­‐peer reviewed research project.”

It added that a recent scientifically-controlled peer-reviewed project had shown no health issues associated with bottled water.

Should you have any additional questions please contact our Marketing Department on info@harrogatespring.com or telephone 01423 730000.

Nicky Cain

Marketing Manager, Harrogate Water

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