Skyline Promotions: Custom Labeled Bottled Water

FAQ’s about Water

What is bottled water?
- Bottled water is a great beverage choice for hydration and refreshment because of its consistent safety, quality, good taste and convenience. Water is classified as "bottled water" or "drinking water" when it meets all applicable federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and is sold for human consumption. By law, FDA standards for bottled water must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for public water systems.Some beverages containing certain ingredients or additives may cause that product to be classified as a soft drink, dietary supplement or some other categorization. Soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled waters. They are regulated differently, may contain sugar and calories and are classified as soft drinks.

What are the different types of bottled water?
- The FDA has established a bottled water Standard of Identity to define the several different types of bottled water based on specific characteristics of the product. Bottled water products meeting the Standard of Identity may be labeled as bottled water or drinking water, or one or more of the following terms:
  
  Spring Water - Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. Spring water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth.
  
  Purified Water - Water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes while meeting the definition of purified water in the United States Pharmacopoeia may be labeled as purified bottled water. Other suitable product names for bottled water treated by one of the above processes may include "distilled water" if it is produced by distillation, “deionized water" if it is produced by deionization or "reverse osmosis water" if the process used is reverse osmosis. Alternatively, "___ drinking water" can be used with the blank being filled in with one of the terms defined in this paragraph (e.g., "purified drinking water" or "distilled drinking water").
  
  Mineral Water - Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this product.
  
  Sparkling Bottled Water - Water that after treatment, and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had as it emerged from the source. Sparkling bottled waters may be labeled as "sparkling drinking water," "sparkling mineral water," "sparkling spring water," etc.
  
  Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water - Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.
  
  Well Water - Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground, which taps the water aquifer.

How is bottled water different than tap water?
- Bottled water is produced and distributed as a packaged food product and made specifically for drinking. As a packaged food product, bottled water must adhere to FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) required of all FDA-regulated food products as well as specific GMPs unique to bottled water production and packaging. GMPs require that each container of bottled water is produced in a sanitary environment and packaged in sanitary, safety sealed containers that are approved by FDA for food contact. Bottled water is also subject to FDA food recall, misbranding and food adulteration provisions, which help ensure that consumers receive safe, high quality bottled water and protects consumers from substandard products.
  
  Taste is another reason consumers choose bottled water. Chlorine is most often used to disinfect tap water and can leave an aftertaste. Some bottlers use ozonation, a form of supercharged oxygen and/or ultraviolet light as the final disinfecting agent, neither of which leaves an aftertaste.
  Bottled water provides consumers with consistent safety, high quality, good taste and convenient portability.To help ensure that bottled water is safe and of the highest quality possible, bottlers may use one or more of the following steps found in a multi-barrier approach: source protection and monitoring, reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration, ozonation and disinfection.

How do I know my water is safe?
- Consumers can trust that bottled water is safe for many reasons. First, bottled water is strictly regulated at the federal level by FDA and at the state level by state agencies. By law, FDA standards for bottled water must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as standards set by EPA for public water systems. This helps ensure that bottled water sold in the United States meets stringent standards for safety, quality and labeling. In addition, members of IBWA must meet strict industry standards required by the IBWA Model Code, which in several cases are stricter than FDA, state or EPA's public drinking water standards. To help ensure that bottled water is as safe and of the highest quality possible, all IBWA members use one or more of the following practices: source protection and monitoring, reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration, ozonation and ultraviolet light.

Is bottled water regulated?
- The bottled water industry is regulated on both the federal and state levels.FDA regulations, coupled with state and industry standards, offer consumers assurance that the bottled water they purchase is stringently regulated and tested, and is of the highest quality.
  
  FEDERAL REGULATIONS
  Bottled water is fully regulated as a packaged food product by FDA. As such, bottled water companies must adhere to FDA’s Standard of Quality, labeling standards and GMPs.
  
  Standard of Quality: All bottled water products must comply with FDA’s Standard of Quality in Section 165.110(b) of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These standards, along with FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices, help ensure the safety of all bottled water products from production to packaging to consumption. By law, FDA is required to review EPA’s drinking water standards and regulate bottled water no less stringently.
  
  Standard of Identity: FDA’s labeling rules for bottled water include a Standard of Identity, which are standardized definitions for terms found on bottled water labels, such as “artesian,” “drinking,” “mineral,” “purified,” “sparkling bottled water,” and “spring.” Seltzer, soda water and tonic water are considered soft drinks; therefore they are excluded from these regulations.
  
  Nutrition Labeling Education Act: In addition to Standard of Identity requirements, bottled water companies must follow the Nutrition Labeling Education Act (NLEA), which sets rules for labels, including serving sizes, format and placement of the label on the food package. Good Manufacturing Practices: Bottled water is subject to both general food GMPs and GMPs specific to bottled water processing and bottling. General food GMPs govern such areas as plant and ground maintenance, sanitary maintenance of buildings and fixtures, and sanitary facilities, including water supply, plumbing and sewage disposal. Bottled water GMPs govern plant construction and design, sanitary facilities and operations, equipment design and construction, production and process controls specific to the production and processing of bottled drinking water and extensive record keeping.
  
  STATE STANDARDS
  In addition to FDA’s extensive regulatory requirements, the bottled water industry is subject to state regulatory requirements as well. Inspections: A significant responsibility of a state government is to inspect, sample, analyze and approve water sources. Under the federal GMPs, only approved water sources can be used to supply a bottling plant. Many states also require bottled water plants to be registered with the state and comply with their specific requirements.
  
  Laboratory Certification: Another area in which some states have important responsibilities that complement federal regulation is the certification of testing laboratories. As with any food production establishment, states can perform unannounced plant inspections. Some states perform annual inspections.

How long can I store bottled water?
- The FDA has not established a shelf life for bottled water. IBWA advises consumers to store bottled water at room temperature (or cooler), out of direct sunlight and away from solvents and chemicals such as gasoline, paint thinners and dry cleaning chemicals. Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly.


	FAQ’s about Water What is bottled water? Bottled water is a great beverage choice for hydration and refreshment because of its consistent safety, quality, good taste and convenience. Water is classified as "bottled water" or "drinking water" when it meets all applicable federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and is sold for human consumption. By law, FDA standards for bottled water must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for public water systems.Some beverages containing certain ingredients or additives may cause that product to be classified as a soft drink, dietary supplement or some other categorization. Soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled waters. They are regulated differently, may contain sugar and calories and are classified as soft drinks. What are the different types of bottled water? The FDA has established a bottled water Standard of Identity to define the several different types of bottled water based on specific characteristics of the product. Bottled water products meeting the Standard of Identity may be labeled as bottled water or drinking water, or one or more of the following terms: Spring Water - Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. Spring water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Purified Water - Water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes while meeting the definition of purified water in the United States Pharmacopoeia may be labeled as purified bottled water. Other suitable product names for bottled water treated by one of the above processes may include "distilled water" if it is produced by distillation, “deionized water" if it is produced by deionization or "reverse osmosis water" if the process used is reverse osmosis. Alternatively, "___ drinking water" can be used with the blank being filled in with one of the terms defined in this paragraph (e.g., "purified drinking water" or "distilled drinking water"). Mineral Water - Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this product. Sparkling Bottled Water - Water that after treatment, and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had as it emerged from the source. Sparkling bottled waters may be labeled as "sparkling drinking water," "sparkling mineral water," "sparkling spring water," etc. Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water - Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer. Well Water - Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground, which taps the water aquifer. How is bottled water different than tap water? Bottled water is produced and distributed as a packaged food product and made specifically for drinking. As a packaged food product, bottled water must adhere to FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) required of all FDA-regulated food products as well as specific GMPs unique to bottled water production and packaging. GMPs require that each container of bottled water is produced in a sanitary environment and packaged in sanitary, safety sealed containers that are approved by FDA for food contact. Bottled water is also subject to FDA food recall, misbranding and food adulteration provisions, which help ensure that consumers receive safe, high quality bottled water and protects consumers from substandard products. Taste is another reason consumers choose bottled water. Chlorine is most often used to disinfect tap water and can leave an aftertaste. Some bottlers use ozonation, a form of supercharged oxygen and/or ultraviolet light as the final disinfecting agent, neither of which leaves an aftertaste. Bottled water provides consumers with consistent safety, high quality, good taste and convenient portability.To help ensure that bottled water is safe and of the highest quality possible, bottlers may use one or more of the following steps found in a multi-barrier approach: source protection and monitoring, reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration, ozonation and disinfection. How do I know my water is safe? Consumers can trust that bottled water is safe for many reasons. First, bottled water is strictly regulated at the federal level by FDA and at the state level by state agencies. By law, FDA standards for bottled water must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as standards set by EPA for public water systems. This helps ensure that bottled water sold in the United States meets stringent standards for safety, quality and labeling. In addition, members of IBWA must meet strict industry standards required by the IBWA Model Code, which in several cases are stricter than FDA, state or EPA's public drinking water standards. To help ensure that bottled water is as safe and of the highest quality possible, all IBWA members use one or more of the following practices: source protection and monitoring, reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration, ozonation and ultraviolet light. Is bottled water regulated? The bottled water industry is regulated on both the federal and state levels.FDA regulations, coupled with state and industry standards, offer consumers assurance that the bottled water they purchase is stringently regulated and tested, and is of the highest quality. FEDERAL REGULATIONS Bottled water is fully regulated as a packaged food product by FDA. As such, bottled water companies must adhere to FDA’s Standard of Quality, labeling standards and GMPs. Standard of Quality: All bottled water products must comply with FDA’s Standard of Quality in Section 165.110(b) of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These standards, along with FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices, help ensure the safety of all bottled water products from production to packaging to consumption. By law, FDA is required to review EPA’s drinking water standards and regulate bottled water no less stringently. Standard of Identity: FDA’s labeling rules for bottled water include a Standard of Identity, which are standardized definitions for terms found on bottled water labels, such as “artesian,” “drinking,” “mineral,” “purified,” “sparkling bottled water,” and “spring.” Seltzer, soda water and tonic water are considered soft drinks; therefore they are excluded from these regulations. Nutrition Labeling Education Act: In addition to Standard of Identity requirements, bottled water companies must follow the Nutrition Labeling Education Act (NLEA), which sets rules for labels, including serving sizes, format and placement of the label on the food package. Good Manufacturing Practices: Bottled water is subject to both general food GMPs and GMPs specific to bottled water processing and bottling. General food GMPs govern such areas as plant and ground maintenance, sanitary maintenance of buildings and fixtures, and sanitary facilities, including water supply, plumbing and sewage disposal. Bottled water GMPs govern plant construction and design, sanitary facilities and operations, equipment design and construction, production and process controls specific to the production and processing of bottled drinking water and extensive record keeping. STATE STANDARDS In addition to FDA’s extensive regulatory requirements, the bottled water industry is subject to state regulatory requirements as well. Inspections: A significant responsibility of a state government is to inspect, sample, analyze and approve water sources. Under the federal GMPs, only approved water sources can be used to supply a bottling plant. Many states also require bottled water plants to be registered with the state and comply with their specific requirements. Laboratory Certification: Another area in which some states have important responsibilities that complement federal regulation is the certification of testing laboratories. As with any food production establishment, states can perform unannounced plant inspections. Some states perform annual inspections. How long can I store bottled water? The FDA has not established a shelf life for bottled water. IBWA advises consumers to store bottled water at room temperature (or cooler), out of direct sunlight and away from solvents and chemicals such as gasoline, paint thinners and dry cleaning chemicals. Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly.