Recently, the Hong Kong Consumer Council published a bottled water test report in the magazine "Choice," pointing out that the bromate levels in samples of Nongfu Spring and Ganten reached the European Union's limit for natural mineral water, sparking widespread attention. Nongfu Spring immediately commissioned a lawyer to send a legal letter to the Consumer Council, demanding written clarification, an apology, and the elimination of the impact; Ganten also stated that it had made representations through its legal department and emphasized that its product was at the critical value of the EU standard rather than exceeding it. The China Beverage Industry Association said it would issue a response later. The Consumer Council reiterated that none of the 30 samples were found to contain harmful substances exceeding WHO guidelines, and that the article focused on value for money and the environmental impact of plastic bottles, and that all samples could be safely consumed. [more…]

Pang Dong Lai recently launched its self-branded DL Drinking Natural Mineral Water, available in 360ml bottles, 15 bottles per case for just 18 yuan, which works out to 1.2 yuan per bottle. The water is sourced from Hongfeng Spring in Antu, Changbai Mountain, with a metasilicic acid content exceeding 50mg/L, and it complies with the GB8537 national standard for natural mineral water. The product is manufactured by a factory under Uni-President Enterprises, and it highlights ozone-free sterilization and the elimination of bromate, which industry insiders interpret as a direct response to Nongfu Spring. It sold out quickly after launch, with 29,000 bottles already sold online. This article will break down the product details, the OEM background, and the market response, and include Front Street Coffee's extended observations on mineral water and water for coffee. [more…]

The Hong Kong Consumer Council previously published an article on bottled water testing, pointing to the bromate levels in samples of Nongfu Spring and Ganten as reaching the upper limit of EU standards, which immediately sparked a public opinion storm. Nongfu Spring quickly commissioned a lawyer to send a letter demanding clarification and an apology, and Ganten also issued a statement in response to the misinterpretation of the test results. Under public pressure, Nongfu Spring's stock price continued to decline, and its market value shrank significantly within two days. The company then sent an executive director to Hong Kong for face-to-face negotiations. Today, the Consumer Council published a clarification on its official website, reclassifying the samples as "natural drinking water" and re-scoring them, while also expressing regret. Nongfu Spring responded that its products fully comply with standards and are safe to drink, and its stock price rose in response. [more…]