A study of the microbiological quality of bottled water sold in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, College of Sciences, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
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Date
2010
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Massey University
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine if retailed bottled water in New Zealand
complied with the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards (ANZFS) Code
(2002) and the New Zealand Microbiological Reference Criteria (1995).
The New Zealand Microbiological Reference Criteria for Packaged Waters
include Total Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococci (Group D streptococci)
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Standard 1.6.1 of the ANZFS includes Total
Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococci (Group D streptococci), Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Total Viable Count (TVC).
In this study five samples of randomly selected 38 brands of different types of
domestic and imported bottled waters were purchased from local retail stores in
Wellington region. The samples were tested for Total Coliforms, Escherichia
coli, Enterococci (Group D streptococci), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, TVC,
Yeasts and Moulds and Campylobacter spp.
Three domestic brands did not comply with both of the above criteria for Total
Coliforms.
Seventeen brands did not comply with TVC criteria of ANZFS Code (100
CFU/ml) with nine out of 17 being domestic New Zealand brands.
Twenty one brands displayed the growth of colonies on Sabouraud dextrose
agar plates. Half of them displayed the growth of moulds.
Due to high incidence of campylobacteriosis in New Zealand composite
samples of brands with TVC counts equal or higher than 100 CFU/ml were
tested for Campylobacter spp. All samples were negative for Campylobacter
spp.
A survey questionnaire was used to assess the impact of manufacturing
procedures on bottled water quality. The aim of the survey was to investigate
possible significant public health links between the source water quality, type of
abstraction, pipework materials, bottling process, staff training, policies and
procedures. All four manufacturers, which responded to the questionnaire and
represented 11 bottled water brands, bottled at least one brand that did not
comply with the ANZFS Code for TVC.
Ten years after the initial study was performed by Hasell and Capill in 1999
microbiological contamination in bottled waters in New Zealand was still being
detected. We demonstrated that monitoring bottled water microbiological quality
was essential and that the presence of manufacturers‘ procedures for ensuring
satisfactory bottled water microbiological quality did not always guarantee it.
Description
Pages 101-107 of Appendix 3 are blank.
Content removed due to copyright:
Svagzdiene, R., Lau, R. and Page, R.A. (2010) Microbiological quality of bottled water brands sold in retail outlets in New Zealand.
Water Science & Technology: Water Supply - WSTWS, 10.5, 689-699.
Keywords
Bottled water contamination, Food microbiology, Bottled water analysis