Think Twice Before Sipping These Sparkling Waters...

As a sparkling water fan, I was shocked to learn that some of my fizzy favorites may contain concerning levels of PFAS - those notorious “forever chemicals” linked to health issues. According to a 2020 Consumer Reports investigation, detectable amounts of PFAS were present in several major sparkling water brands and some samples far exceeded expert-recommended safety thresholds. 

Let’s break down the test results:

Most Contaminated: Topo Chico, Polar & Bubly

Coca-Cola’s popular Topo Chico came in at a whopping 9.76 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFAS - the highest across all tested samples. Polar followed with 6.41 ppt and Bubly measured 2.24 ppt.

Potentially Problematic: Poland Spring, Canada Dry, La Croix & Perrier

While falling under Topo Chico’s levels, Poland Spring, Canada Dry, La Croix and Perrier all contained PFAS ranging from 1.66 down to 1.1 ppt.

Here's the issue — even 1 ppt is too much according to scientific assessments of PFAS safety thresholds. Independent experts argue regulations and guidance should be far stricter on these environmentally persistent chemicals making their way into food and beverages. Brands clearly need to step up filtration efforts.

In response, Poland Spring's parent company Nestlé Waters maintains its products fall well under detectable ranges. However, Consumer Reports testing tells a different story. The organization continues advocating for more protective limits industry-wide.

So should we give up our bubbly water passion? Probably not if brands implement better filtration technology to erase PFAS completely going forward. But we must keep pressure on companies to provide contaminant-free products that prioritize consumer health over profits or convenience. 

In the meantime, I will personally be more cautious before picking up my favorite fizzy drinks.

Clean water should be the standard, not the exception!