Mineral water - many labels, large price differences
Not only should one drink a lot on named days, but especially then. Often one reaches for a mineral water bottle. The Foundation Warentest has examined this. It found little to criticize, but as an alternative beverage, it also recommends the good tap water in Germany.
The Foundation Warentest tested 29 carbonated waters and in many cases gave out the highest grade. As reported in the issue of the consumer magazine "Test" published on Thursday, 11 waters "scored very well", 14 had the second-best grade "good". Microbiologically, nothing objectionable was found in any of the tested products.
The most important test for carbonated waters was the sensory test, for which five trained tasters evaluated the appearance, smell, taste, and mouthfeel. "A mineral water that scores very well sensorically should be odorless, clear, and free of impurities," explained project leader Janine Schlenker. For the evaluation, only the fact that mineral water should not taste like plastic, fruit, or "in any way off" was decisive.
No critical substances in significant amounts
24 of the tested carbonated water types received the highest grade in the sensory test. Two products had errors. One water tasted slightly metallic, the other barely sparkled. Positively, none of the products contained significant amounts of critical substances such as Uran, Nitrate, or residues from bottles.
There were large price differences. While the cheapest water in the test cost 19 cents per liter, the most expensive was 2.23 euros.
The Saxonia Quelle from Saxony (32 cents per liter) was declared the test winner by the Foundation Warentest. The equally expensive Alb-Perle from Baden-Württemberg is the mineral-rich water on the front shelves.
Popular thirst quencher in Germany
"The Foundation Warentest gives consumers the independent safety that 'there's something for every thirst' and they can rely solely on the excellent quality of the natural product mineral water," explained Jürgen Reichle, managing director of the German Mineral Water Association (VDM). Mineral water is the most popular thirst quencher in Germany with a per capita consumption of more than 124 liters per year.
The Foundation Warentest emphasizes that tap water can also be an alternative to water from the supermarket or beverage store. The water in Germany has "good quality". However, the water tap can influence this.
The Foundation Warentest's guide on carbonated waters suggests tap water as an alternative, acknowledging its good quality in Germany. Consumers seeking varied options can trust the Foundation Warentest's evaluation of mineral waters, as it ensures minimal critical substances and excellent sensory characteristics.
