There have been some shocking reports that some brands of bottled water are contaminated with E. coli.
Many people choose to buy bottled water in order to avoid the toxins and contaminants found in tap water, which is why consumers found this news to be shocking.
If you buy bottled water, keep reading to find out whether you should be concerned about E. coli.
E. Coli in Natural Water Sources
- coli is present in natural water sources and always presents a risk when it comes to water. It can be spread throughfecal matterand other materials, all of which can be found in water. Of course, bottled water goes through a filtering process that is successful at removing traces of E. coli.
However, no technology is perfect. When one source of bottled water became contaminated with E. coli, it was followed with a breakout of E. coli in bottled water. Fox News reported that 11 states were affected by the E. coli breakout.
Fourteen different brands of bottled water have been voluntarily recalled as a result of this contamination. All of these brands source their water from Niagara Bottling. The recalled brands include:
- 7-11
- Acadia
- Acme
- Best Yet
- Big Y
- Nature’s Place
- Niagara
- Superchill
- Morning Fresh
- Pricerite
- Shoprite
- Shaws
- Western Beef Blue
- Wegman’s
The states that have been impacted by the recall are: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Side Effects
If you live in one of these states, and are a regular consumer of these bottled water brands, you may be wondering what will happen to you if you catch E. coli.
- coli can quickly lead to life-threatening dehydration and therefore it is important to watch for its uncomfortable and even dangerous symptoms.
The common symptoms of E. coli are: stomach cramps, stomach tenderness, watery or bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Usually, E. coli resolves itself within a week. However, if you experience a bloody diarrhea for more than two weeks, it’s important to seek medical attention.
When it comes to children, E. coli can be really dangerous. Children are small and dehydration can be deadly for them. If your child begins showing signs of dehydration or diarrhea, seek medical attention immediately.
Water Filtration Choices
If this E. coli outbreak makes you doubt the safety of bottled water, you could invest in a water filtration system. Natural health stores and kitchen stores often carry water filters that attach to your faucet. You can also buy a pitcher or a bottle with an attached filter.
Bottled water is generally safe and comes with very few risks. However, no filtering procedure is 100% safe. When you are informed about recent outbreaks, you can get the water you need without exposing yourself or your family to unnecessary illness or potential threats. It is important to know the potential risks, no matter of you rely on bottled water or decide to try another filtered water source.
