Bill could require more information on bottled water packaging

Bottled water in the U.S. could include more on-package documentation if a bill proposed by U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) becomes law.

The bill, called the “Bottled Water Safety and Right-to-Know Act,” would require bottled water companies to display – on each bottle – where the water came from, how it was treated, and the quantity of contaminants in the bottle.

Tom Lauria, a spokesman for the International Bottled Water Association, said most bottled water companies already address these issues. They print the source of the water on the label, he said, along with an 800 number to call for more information – but adding much more information to the bottle may be asking too much.

“You’re trying to telegraph to the consumer what they need to know, quickly,” he said.

Lautenberg – whose office did not return a call for comment – introduced the bill at a hearing in the Environment and Public Works. Lauria described the hearing as calm and “sparsely attended.” He expects more hearings on the subject, including appearances from the FDA and EPA, and said the IBWA may ultimately back the measure – but they will reserve judgment until a final version of the bill is prepared.