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Food Safety and Quality: Limitations of FDA's Bottled Water Survey and Options for Better Oversight

RCED-92-87 Published: Feb 10, 1992. Publicly Released: Feb 24, 1992.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the adequacy of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 1990 Bottled Water Survey, focusing on whether the FDA: (1) survey results were representative of the nation's bottled water supply; (2) tests covered all regulated contaminants; and (3) testing for unregulated contaminants was warranted.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Health and Human Services The Secretary of Health and Human Services should improve FDA oversight of bottled water by reconsidering his decision regarding the prior GAO recommendations that relate to the use of certified laboratories and the retention of test records for a longer period of time.
Closed – Not Implemented
FDA believes that requiring laboratory certification would be costly and not worth the benefits. GAO believes that certification is needed for improved oversight and need not be costly. However, congressional interest in new bottled water legislation is waning. FDA indicates no interest in acting on this recommendation.
Food and Drug Administration The Commissioner, FDA, should develop a program, in cooperation with the International Bottled Water Association (BWA) and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), to test the feasibility of using third-party inspection results.
Closed – Not Implemented
FDA supports more sharing of information among FDA, BWA, and NSF but has not concurred with establishing a program to pilot-test using third-party inspection results. Congressional interest in new bottled water legislation is waning. FDA has no interest in acting on the recommendation.

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Topics

ContaminantsContaminated foodsFood safetyFood industryFood inspectionHazardous substancesPotable waterSafety regulationSafety standardsStatistical methodsSurveysWater quality