Food Act Report 2009/2010 - SA Health - SA.Gov.au

Appendix 5A letter was sent to the importer of bottled water sample number 30463, advising of the observed high level ofPseudomonas spp. Further samples of bottled water were collected to assess the level of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.The presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicates serious contamination by pollution as and is associated with surfacerun-off, human faecal matter and domestic and agriculture effluent. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not detected in anyof those samples indicating that the products are free of pathogenic micro-organisms and safe for consumption.It is proposed that SA Health will continue to sample and analyse the microbiological quality of bottled waterperiodically. From this information trend analysis can be derived and utilised in the futureDiscussion of ResultsTwenty samples were obtained from nine different stores in South Australia. All samples analysed tested negativeor were below the detectable level for E. coli spp. These results indicate a high level of microbiological quality; inparticular that E. coli spp. was not detected in any sample. E. coli spp. is an indicator organism and if it was present inbottled water it would suggest that packaging, distribution or processing occurred under poor hygienic conditions.Pseudomonas spp. was detected in one sample of bottled water in levels of 30,000/100 ml.General Labelling RequirementsThere was a 100% level of compliance with the general labelling requirements set out in Part 1.2 of the Code in allproducts sampled.ConclusionTwenty bottled water samples were analysed for the presence of E. coli, Pseudomonas species, mould and yeast.The results indicated a high level of microbiological quality with no detection of E. coli in any sample.Food Act Report Year ending 30 June 2010 page 58