FDA acts against water bottle company for supplying unsafe water

Action was taken after a consumer alerted the FDA that the company is not registered and something was amiss with the water taste

Following an alert consumer's letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against a water bottle company, the government body has initiated action against the company. The samples from bottling company 'Mermaid' were tested and it was found that the water was unsafe to drink and the company was not registered under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The person who filed the complaint, Anand Pargaonkar, is also an RTI activist. He had purchased a Mermaid water bottle in Satara. After he had a sip he found something amiss with the taste and that there was no registration SSI number on the bottle. He then filed a complaint with the FDA, Mumbai which forwarded the complaint to FDA, Pune. After testing the samples it was established that the water was unsafe to drink and that the company was not registered.

Pargaonkar said, "Often we buy water or food from local vendors or stalls and even if we find anything wrong we let it go. As an alert citizen in democracy, we have the power to complain in case there's anything wrong with what we consume. This case is an example that true efforts bear fruits. I'm thankful to the FDA for their cooperation. Although this may seem a minute thing to complain about but such fraud companies are playing with our lives." Pargaonkar had filed a complaint with FDA, Mumbai on 9 March 2018.

FDA Pune inspected Shilpa Beverages private limited in Nanded Taluka, which manufactures bottled water and found that the company is not registered. On the basis of the tests undertaken and lack of registration, FDA, Pune lodged a complaint in the chief judicial office, Pune.