Is the Nongfu Spring Water You Drink as (Un)safe as You Think?

Is the Nongfu Spring Water You Drink as (Un)safe as You Think?

On July 15, the Hong Kong Consumer Council released a detailed analysis. The study tested 30 commonly purchased bottled water samples from the local market, including prominent brands like Baisuishan and Nongfu Spring from mainland. The tests revealed that both brands contained bromate levels of 3 micrograms per liter, which meets the European Union's limit for naturally occurring bromate in mineral and spring water treated with ozone. However, this level is significantly below the drinking water standards set by the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the World Health Organization, which permit up to 10 micrograms per liter.

Following the release of the report, the reaction on social media was significant. Many netizens expressed a change in their consumption choices. Others shared personal anecdotes about suspected adverse reactions after consuming Nongfu Spring water, further fueling the public's concern and skepticism towards the brand's safety standards.

On July 16, Nongfu Spring reacted strongly by sending a legal letter to the Hong Kong Consumer Council, demanding a formal apology. Nongfu Spring argued that the council's report was based on a misinterpretation and a non-professional analysis, which unfairly criticized the bromate content in its products. The company highlighted three major inaccuracies in the council's publication:

1. Misapplication of Standards: The report wrongly classified Nongfu Spring's "natural water (deep lake water)" as "natural mineral water," thus comparing it against inappropriate standards and applying EU norms that were not suitable.

2. Erroneous Judgment of Standards: Nongfu Spring stressed that its bottled water strictly adheres to the production standards of both mainland and Hong Kong. However, the Consumer Council applied third-party standards that were irrelevant to the products sold in Hong Kong.

3. Subjective Misleading: The Consumer Council avoided a clear statement on compliance, instead choosing to ambiguously state that the bromate levels were "at the upper limit," a phrasing that could easily mislead consumers regarding the safety of the product.

In the wake of the publication, industry insiders, including Zhu Danpeng, a noted Chinese food industry analyst, have pointed out that food safety standards often differ between Hong Kong and mainland. Zhu suggested that by international norms, Nongfu Spring's products are likely not exceeding any limits.

Since hitting a short-term high in May, Nongfu Spring's stock price has been in decline. By noon on July 16, the company's shares had fallen by 2.69%, pricing at HKD 32.60 each, with a market capitalization shedding over HKD 100 billion in just two months.

Despite the financial turbulence, Nongfu Spring's 2023 annual report showed a 28.4% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching RMB 42.67 billion, and a 42.2% increase in net profit attributable to the parent company, totaling RMB 12.08 billion. 

Source: 财联社, 澎湃新闻

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