Harmful bacteria found in mineral water leads to its withdrawal in Germany
A recall campaign is currently underway for mineral water in plastic bottles from brands "Gut&Günstig" and "Naturalis Mineralwasser" sold in Edeka, Netto, and Marktkauf stores across Germany. The recall is due to the detection of potentially harmful bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in samples of the water.
The recall affects various sorts of "Gut&Günstig" and "Naturalis Mineralwasser" in 0.5L and 1.5L PET bottles from the Clara spring at Jessen, Saxony-Anhalt. The affected products were sold in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia.
The specific list of affected best-before dates for the recalled products can be found at the food safety warning portal lebensmittelwarnung.de. Consumers who have purchased the affected products (with one of the specified best-before dates) can return it to their stores for a refund, even without the receipt.
The bacterial contamination involves Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause infections especially in immunocompromised individuals. However, the exact cause of the contamination and the details around the seriousness of the threat remain unclear, as criticized by Foodwatch.
It is essential for consumers to check the label of their bottled water for the source (Clara spring, Jessen) and the best-before date against the published recall list on Lebensmittelwarnung.de or the Roxane GmbH official communication.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the quality of bottled water in Germany. Last year, Foodwatch reported Alma and Nestlé for having illegally filtered water from sources contaminated with faeces, PFAS chemicals, and pesticides in France.
While tap water in Germany is safe and of high quality, many Germans primarily (or only) drink bottled mineral water, which is known to come with significant environmental impacts. This recent recall serves as a reminder for consumers to be vigilant about the products they consume and to support initiatives that promote sustainable practices.
For more information, consumers can visit the food safety warning portal lebensmittelwarnung.de or refer to the official recall announcement by Roxane GmbH, the distributor of these products.
The recall extends to various types of 'Gut&Günstig' and 'Naturalis Mineralwasser' from the Clara spring, and it's advisable for consumers to check the best-before dates on their bottles against the recall list on the food safety warning portal at
