Everything I know about bottled water
Bottled water in restaurants is a hot topic in California, which means it will probably be a hot topic here eventually. Various celebrity chefs like Alice Waters no longer serve it -- especially the still and sparkling waters imported from Europe -- on the grounds that it's environmentally irresponsible.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the transportation of imported bottled water to California restaurants is equivalent to the emissions of 1,700 cars in a year. I have no idea how reliable this estimate is, but it's something to think about. When I was last in San Diego, whether to serve bottled water was a big issue with restaurants there.
Bottled water in general is coming under attack. There's the whole issue of...
...whether kids who drink it are getting enough fluoride, for instance. The American Dental Association has a position paper on it.
I don't know enough to speak with any authority, but that never stops me from weighing in on an issue. I know drinking bottled water kept my kid from ever getting started on soda pop, and that had to be good for her teeth. Anyway, think of the water children get besides what they drink: The water food is cooked with, the water they drink when they brush their teeth, water at school and so on.
Not to mention fluoridated toothpaste.
This entry is turning into everything I ever thought about bottled water, which admittedly isn't much. I just got sent some review bottles of Hint water, which was selected as "Best Flavored Water" by Health magazine. I actually like water-flavored water, but this was a lot better than the Dasani grape-flavored water that came out of the vending machine by mistake the other day. It tasted like what's left in the glass when all the grape soda is gone and the ice cubes are melting.
Comments
Dannon sells bottled water with fluoride for kids.
Posted by: Greg S | November 9, 2007 10:33 AM
Baltimore water tastes good, is healthy, and as you said, does not contribute to waste and pollution. When you go out for dinner, ask for "Baltimore Tap Water". And there's really no need to buy all those bottles of water at the supermarket. It comes into our homes virtually free.
Posted by: NIck | November 10, 2007 12:29 AM
I'm with you, Nick. We've been requesting "eau de Baltimore" long before it was cool!
Posted by: Darlene | November 10, 2007 7:24 AM