Arsenic Was Discovered in Some Major Brands of Bottled Water

Nothing is quite as refreshing as cracking open your favorite bottled water after a quick jog or a long hike. As convenient and delicious as bottled water is, it’s important to know what exactly you’re drinking.

Some water brands sold by Whole Foods and Dr. Pepper have been reported to contain unsafe levels of arsenic. Maybe staying hydrated isn’t as healthy as we thought.

What Brands Are Affected?

It’s important to note that there are safe levels of arsenic humans can ingest. Federal regulations require arsenic levels of less than 10 parts per billion (ppb). Some experts argue that you shouldn’t ingest more than 3 ppb. In a study conducted by Consumer Reports, 11 of the 130 bottled water brands tested had had detectable levels of arsenic, and 6 of them contained 3 ppb and higher. These are the bottled waters you should be looking out for:

• Peñafiel (Dr. Pepper)
• Starkey (Whole Foods)
• Crystal Creamery
• Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water
• Volvic
• EartH₂O

Peñafiel, which is owned by Dr. Pepper, contained the highest amount of arsenic at 17 ppb.

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What Happens Next?

Dr. Pepper has announced they will be stopping the production of Peñafiel for the time being. The water is manufactured at its Mexico facility before being shipped off to the US. Though the arsenic levels in Peñafiel are high, no recall has been issued by Dr. Pepper. And there don’t seem to be any plans for one, which may soon draw the attention of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), said the Consumer Report.

If you’re drinking bottled water, stick to the brands provided and keep an eye out for those that are unsafe. If you would like to monitor recalls, try this app to stay up to date on the latest alerts.

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What Brands Are Safe?

Not all brands are unsafe for consumption. According to Consumer Reports, many common favorites are still below the legal allowance of arsenic. Some have no traces at all. All of the following brands have been tested and cleared for drinking:

• Aquafina
• Arrowhead
• Dasani
• Deer Park
• Essentia
• Evian
• Fiji
• Glaceau Smart Water
• Ice Mountain
• Kirkland (Costco)
• Life WTR
• Market Pantry (Target)
• Nestlé Pure Life
• Niagara
• Poland Spring
• Propel

Of course, you can always opt for filling up a reusable water bottle (here are our favorite picks!) right from the tap. It’s a great way to be eco-friendly and cut back on expenses, too.