Emily Kuross - Comment

In my work in nutrition communication, I have frequently fronted questions regarding the healthfulness and quality of bottled water. In my experience, the general public is shocked and angered when they learn that the quality of bottled water is less regulated than tap water. Even when consumers are aware that bottled water may not have undergone testing for coliforms, they have no way of knowing for certain. I feel that this imperfect information on the consumer side is good grounds for government regulation of bottled water for the purpose of protecting the public health. I also feel strongly that responsibility for paying for testing should fall upon the beverage companies as the cost will be equally distributed across companies and as such not market distorting. I think this rule is reasonable and its implementation is long overdue. Emily Kuross MS Nutrition Communication doctoral candidate Food Policy and Applied Nutrition