For a while now, bottled water has been both prevalent and controversial -- whether prompting discussions of the differences (or lack thereof) between bottled and tap water, or reminding us of the extreme waste involved with neverending hordes of plastic water bottles.
Of course, that means that this is the perfect time to get flavored bottled water for our dogs -- they won't live long enough to see the impact! Did you know that there is a brand called FortiFido that offers flavored waters to not only hydrate your canine, but also help their bones, breath, joints, and skin?
Now I'm all for a little perk for man's best friend, but must we encourage more waste when it would be so very easy to offer this stuff as powder, soluble tablets, or gel to be put in the water of your choice? Think of Fido's children, and his children's children!
There has lately been a lot of negative pressure on bottled water producers. A lot of attention is being focused on the environmental impact of the bottles and transportation, as well as the possibility of wasting a natural resource. Environmental groups and government officials alike have been working to get consumers to drink tap water from reusable containers.
The three biggest bottled water producers in England have gotten together to form the Natural Hydration Council to fight back. One goal the Council has set for itself is "to undertake new research and communicate the facts to ensure fully informed consumer choices."
According to the article, the European bottled water market has actually grown over the last few years and is expected to stay healthy, so the Natural Hydration Council seems to be more of a preemptive strike and more of a response to what's happening in the US. What do you think of the new bottled water council?
I think it's so strange that a tobacco company is making a supposedly breath freshening bottled water. That's what a Japanese firm is doing, though.
According to Trends in Japan, Japan Tobacco has come up with this product, which is geared for men (it actually has "for men" printed on the labeling). I guess all the cigarette smoking is causing a nation-wide masculine bad breath crisis. Hmm, I guess Japan Tobacco wants to be the solution as well as the problem.
I guess this situation is not so strange after all. Do know of any other companies with problem/solution products?
There is a book that came out recently about our obsession with bottled water called Botllemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It. In it, the author talks about our reliance on bottled water and how tap water is generally as pure or more pure than bottled water.
Americans are getting away from bottled water, but it isn't because of this new book. Apparently bottled water is just too expensive, and in an economic downturn it's one of those luxury items that gets cut. This report from CNN.com interviews several people who have switched to tap water as well as a few calculations of how much you can save by cutting out bottled water.
The report also briefly mentions the environmental aspect of this trend. Refusing to buy bottled water helps cut down on the plastic bottles, which we've been told for years is what we need to do. Are you cutting back or cutting out bottled water for economic reasons?
Growing up in Portland, OR, when it came to drinking water, we were pretty lucky. The water that came out of the tap was clear and tasty. One of the hardest things to adjust to when I moved to Philadelphia was the fact that the water that came out of my kitchen sink didn't taste too great. For a while I bought bottled water, but my bank account couldn't handle that expense and I didn't like the amount of plastic I generated, especially living in an apartment building with sketchy recycling practices. It also felt wrong to me to buy bottled water, when I live in one of the few countries in the world where the tap water is pretty much universally safe for general consumption.
It appears that all across the country, upscale restaurants are making similar choices, leaving behind the bottled water and serving filtered still or carbonated water. Serious Eats has a nice round-up of recent establishments that are turning to the tap and choosing not serve bottled water, despite the financial sacrifice it entails.
Do you drink bottled water? Are you someone who won't drink water unless it's bottled? Do you only drink a certain brand of bottled water because it's chic, or trendy, or in some way is an extension of who you are?
You might be a water snob.
But then again, you might be pooh-pooh'd by a new breed of water snobs - those who won't drink anything but tap water.
Slate recently published an interesting article about reverse water snobbery, in which people are shunning the energy-wasting, eco-unfriendly bottled water for plain old tap water. Restaurants like Chez Panisse in Berkeley have stopped serving fancy, expensive bottled water in favor of filtered municipal tap water.
I'll have to admit, though I hadn't really thought much about the ecological impact of drinking bottled water, I usually don't. I just think it' a ridiculous waste of money.
Who says you have to wait til January 1 to make resolutions?
Below are eight foods I resolve to eat this summer (and beyond) and stuff I resolve not to eat. Some I've chosen because they're good for me (like #1), some I've chosen because, well, I just want to eat/drink them (#8). What about you?
1. Water. Believe it or not, I don't drink that much water, one of the healthiest things you really need. I drink it, but it's usually in the form of tea, diet soda, or fat free milk. It's time to get back to drinking water straight. It's good for you.
Ogo Water is a fairly new bottled water product from the Netherlands. With a 35 times higher concentration of oxygen than regular water, it promises a boost of energy, or at least 35 times more oxygen than you had before. The manufacturers call it "The Breathing Water." Apparently, the burst of oxygen in each bottle of OGO will increase your body's oxygen saturation - how this is accomplished by drinking however, is beyond me.
The water is available in still, sparkling, and a lightly flavored "Flower Power," with elderflower and lychee. It looks like Ogo is currently available in Australia and the UK, and will be distributed in the US by Verve Brands, LLC.
Yesterday, The Fanatic Cook featured a good post with some highlights from a large-scale, bottled-water analysis done by the National Resources Defense Council a few years ago. One of the better details that TFC pulled from the report was how a bottled water called Spring Water, labeled with a majestic mountain lake, was actually sourced from an industrial parking lot next to a hazardous waste site. Fun, and probably not that uncommon. TFC also points out this handy chart with comparisons of tests run on hundreds of different bottled waters to check their levels of arsenic, fluoride, etc.
Volvic has always been my personal favorite as far as bottled waters go. Conversely, I've never found a
flavored water or "fruit water" that I liked. So, naturally, I'm a little curious about Volvic's new offering
in that field.
According to a recent BevNET review, the lemon flavor is
"plagued by bitterness," but the orange version is much better. It is sweetened, making each bottle worth 60
calories. According to BevNET, there's also a slightly unpleasant aftertaste due to preservatives (potassium benzoate).
Another review is available on DooYoo.
Overall, I'm a bit skeptical of these drinks, as most I've encountered just taste like a watered down version of
something else. We'll see.
Global sales of bottled water may surpass those of carbonated beverages in the next five years, according to
a recent article on
NutraIngredients.com. The piece is based on a study by food consultants Zenith International.
The Zenith research predicts that the global consumption of bottled water will top 173 billion liters in 2005 and 217
by 2009. It was 163 billion in 2004. Western Europe accounts for roughly a quarter of all bottled water consumed, with
Asia and Australasia coming in just behind them. While Danone and Nestle are the major players in bottled water sales,
Pepsi-Co's Aquafina and Propel are also starting to make up a decent share of the market.
We can change the way we make eggs -- scrambled, poached, fried -- but what about changing the eggs themselves? Mix up your scrambling routine with quail eggs.
Growing up in Portland, OR, when it came to drinking water, we were pretty lucky. The water that came out of the tap was clear and tasty. One of the hardest things to adjust to when I moved to Philadelphia was the fact that the water that came out of my kitchen sink didn't taste too great. For a while I bought bottled water, but my bank account couldn't handle that expense and I didn't like the amount of plastic I generated, especially living in an apartment building with sketchy recycling practices. It also felt wrong to me to buy bottled water, when I live in one of the few countries in the world where the tap water is pretty much universally safe for general consumption. 
Do you drink bottled water? Are you someone who won't drink water unless it's bottled? Do you only drink a certain brand of bottled water because it's chic, or trendy, or in some way is an extension of who you are?
Who says you have to wait til January 1 to make resolutions?
Ogo Water
Yesterday, 
Volvic has always been my personal favorite as far as bottled waters go. Conversely, I've never found a
flavored water or "fruit water" that I liked. So, naturally, I'm a little curious about Volvic's new offering
in that field.
Global sales of bottled water may surpass those of carbonated beverages in the next five years, according to
Second Helping of Slashfood - June 19
Competitive-Eating Contest to Pit Humans Against Elephants
The Backyard Boom - The Hungry Bride
