Production Lines of Several Mineral Water Companies Halted Due to Microbial Contamination

The news about the contamination of some bottled water in Iran has been discussed in domestic media over the past couple of weeks. In the latest response, the Director General of Food and Beverage Supervision at the Food and Drug Organization of the Ministry of Health stated that the cases of 12 mineral water companies are under review at the Ministry of Health, and the production lines of some bottled water companies have been halted. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Saturday, October 4, that Behrouz Janat, the Director General of Food and Beverage Supervision at the Food and Drug Organization, mentioned that some brands in the market, including Damavand mineral water, are problematic due to microbial contamination. He noted that the issues with Damavand mineral water have a history, and the company's water spring had been previously seized. This official from the Iranian Ministry of Health stated that the production lines of the violating bottled water companies have now been halted and their products have been removed from the market. Mr. Janat indicated that Damavand mineral water was among the companies that did not take the necessary warnings regarding microbial contamination seriously, leading to the suspension of its production line. The Director General of Food and Beverage Supervision mentioned that apart from the Damavand brand, no other mineral water brands have been declared as violators, and the mention of this brand is due to its non-compliance with regulations and warnings from the supervisory body. This comes as Hassan Hashemi, the Iranian Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, mandated the Food and Drug Organization to conduct thorough investigations into bottled mineral and drinking water a month ago, and now, as reported in Iranian media, the production of contaminated mineral water has been halted. According to Mehr News Agency, based on statements from Hossein Rastgar, the Director General of Reference Laboratories at the Food and Drug Organization, bottled waters include both mineral and drinking waters. He stated that mineral waters must be consistent in mineral conditions, quality, and other factors across the four seasons from which they are sourced, and these waters are examined in all four seasons. However, drinking water can vary seasonally, and changes can occur in drinking waters that may alter certain minerals, thus distinguishing drinking water from mineral water.