Water or Wine

[ptbrauch]

In case this is a serious question -

The reason is that even the most carefully filtered water will support life.  Even distilled water can support certain microbes if it is stored in plastic containers.  Bottled water always has a preservative (even those that claim they don't really do) that breaks down with time, and therefore can eventually support living stuff that nobody wants.

Besides, have you ever tasted bottled water that has sat at room teperature for a few weeks?  Ewww...At some point, I'd take the chlorine over the plastic.

Austin

Actually, that's not true.  If  bottled water contained a preservative, it would have to be stated on the bottle.  The do list the purification method used--either reverse osmosis or ozonation, but neither of those is a preservative.  

You are correct that even distilled water can support certain microbes, but they have to be present first.  The purification (distillation) process removes the microbes, thus none are present to be supported.  

Also, preservatives are to prevent oxidation and/or microbe growth.  In bottled water, there is nothing present to oxidize, nor is there any nutrients present to feed any microbes.  Thus there is no need for preservatives.  

You can read up on the bottled water regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations at 21CFR129

Oh, I forgot to add that the reason it has an expiration date is because the government requires it.  Though it will last much longer, its typically given at 2 years because thats as far as most companies will go to test it.

[wavery]

Actually, that's not true.  If  bottled water contained a preservative, it would have to be stated on the bottle.  The do list the purification method used--either reverse osmosis or ozonation, but neither of those is a preservative.  

You are correct that even distilled water can support certain microbes, but they have to be present first.  The purification (distillation) process removes the microbes, thus none are present to be supported.  

Also, preservatives are to prevent oxidation and/or microbe growth.  In bottled water, there is nothing present to oxidize, nor is there any nutrients present to feed any microbes.  Thus there is no need for preservatives.  

You can read up on the bottled water regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations at 21CFR129

Oh, I forgot to add that the reason it has an expiration date is because the government requires it.  Though it will last much longer, its typically given at 2 years because thats as far as most companies will go to test it.

Tell it to the French :J

[AustinBoston]

Actually, that's not true.  If  bottled water contained a preservative, it would have to be stated on the bottle.  The do list the purification method used--either reverse osmosis or ozonation, but neither of those is a preservative.  

You are correct that even distilled water can support certain microbes, but they have to be present first.  The purification (distillation) process removes the microbes, thus none are present to be supported.  

Also, preservatives are to prevent oxidation and/or microbe growth.  In bottled water, there is nothing present to oxidize, nor is there any nutrients present to feed any microbes.  Thus there is no need for preservatives.  

You can read up on the bottled water regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations at 21CFR129

Oh, I forgot to add that the reason it has an expiration date is because the government requires it.  Though it will last much longer, its typically given at 2 years because thats as far as most companies will go to test it.

129.80 (f): "No more than one of the four samples may exceed more than one bacteria per milliliter of capacity or one colony per square centimeter of surface area."

In other words, a 1/2-liter bottle is allowed to have up to 500 bacteria in it; one in four bottles can have more than 500 bacteria in it (with no upper limit).

Austin

[wavery]

129.80 (f): "No more than one of the four samples may exceed more than one bacteria per milliliter of capacity or one colony per square centimeter of surface area."

In other words, a 1/2-liter bottle is allowed to have up to 500 bacteria in it; one in four bottles can have more than 500 bacteria in it (with no upper limit).

Austin

Sounds like a bunch of doo-doo to me. :J

[ptbrauch]

129.80 (f): "No more than one of the four samples may exceed more than one bacteria per milliliter of capacity or one colony per square centimeter of surface area."

In other words, a 1/2-liter bottle is allowed to have up to 500 bacteria in it; one in four bottles can have more than 500 bacteria in it (with no upper limit).

Austin

And?

Just because its bacteria doesn't mean its bad.  There are millions of bacteria in your mouth right now.  Not to mention that you couldn't digest your food without bacteria.  

Do you know what general bacterial limits are on pasteurized milk are?  100 per gram.  Pizza sauce?  1000 per gram!!  That means that a gallon of milk can contain 390,000 bacteria and a pizza may contain 170,000 just in the sauce alone.

Now, call your local water company and ask them what their limits are.  And then tell me you're really worried about bottled water.

[AustinBoston]

And?

Just because its bacteria doesn't mean its bad.

Yes, but your claim was that they were not present to begin with.

Austin

[ptbrauch]

Yes, but your claim was that they were not present to begin with.

Austin

And I still maintain that.  Just because they're permitted to be present, doesn't mean that they are.  I'd be willing to bet you that if you take a randomly selected, unopened bottle of water of a brand of your choosing to a lab for a micro analysis, it'll come back negative (actually, it will be reported as <1 cfu/ml, as they won't plate out the entire 500 ml bottle).  

Now, let me ask you on what information do you base your claim?

Bottled water always has a preservative (even those that claim they don't really do) that breaks down with time, and therefore can eventually support living stuff that nobody wants.