The Hong Kong Consumer Council (hereinafter referred to as the Council) apologized for the misclassification of Nongfu Spring samples, and after reclassification, upgraded the rating to 5 stars. Nongfu Spring has responded.

According to a July 18 report by Hong Kong Sing Tao Daily, the Council recently held a press conference for its monthly magazine "Choice," releasing the test results of 30 bottled water samples on the market. The report stated that all samples were safe for consumption, but mentioned that the level of bromate in "Nongfu Spring Drinking Natural Water" reached the upper limit set by the European Union.

The following day, Nongfu Spring sent a lawyer's letter to the Council, claiming that the article made unobjective evaluations of its products, causing significant damage to its company's reputation, and demanding clarification and an apology from the Council.

Today (July 18), the Council issued a statement clarifying that after investigation, it was found that classifying "Nongfu Spring Drinking Natural Water" as "natural mineral water" in the report was incorrect. After reclassification, its overall performance rating was adjusted from 4.5 stars to 5 stars. The Council apologized for the misunderstanding caused by the discrepancy in sample classification during this test.

The report stated that the Council's statement noted that after meeting and having in-depth discussions with representatives of Nongfu Spring, it was understood that the product was neither "natural mineral water" nor "purified water," but "drinking natural water." The standard adopted by the company is the "National Food Safety Standard for Packaged Drinking Water" (GB19298-2014) of its production location, mainland China. In this regard, the Council reclassified the sample as an independent category of "drinking natural water" and reassessed its rating.

The Council stated that from a consumer perspective, if comparing the TDS (total dissolved solids) values of the test results, the taste of this sample was lighter than that of general "natural mineral water" but richer than that of general "purified water." Regarding bromate, the Council calculated based on the EU's maximum limit of 10 micrograms per liter for bromate in drinking water, which is consistent with the "National Food Safety Standard for Packaged Drinking Water" (GB19298-2014). The detected level of the sample (3 micrograms per liter) fell within the "drinking water" guideline value and was far below the said guideline value, making it safe for consumption. "After reassessment, the overall performance rating of this sample was adjusted from 4.5 stars to 5 stars."

The Council also stated that the chemical safety and microbiological test results of all 30 tested samples were satisfactory, with no harmful substances exceeding relevant guideline values. "The Council has clearly stated in its monthly magazine articles, press releases, other communication documents, as well as remarks made at press conferences that all samples tested (including the Nongfu Spring sample) are safe for consumption. The main purpose of the article was not to raise safety concerns about the products, but to remind consumers of the cost-effectiveness of each sample and the environmental impact of plastic bottles used for bottled water. Consumers are reminded that plastic bottles for bottled water are generally intended for single-use only, and that it may take hundreds of years for plastic to degrade. Consumers are advised to try changing their lifestyle habits and reduce plastic use at the source."

The Council expressed regret for the misunderstanding caused by the discrepancy in sample classification during this test.

In response, Nongfu Spring posted an article on its official WeChat account on July 18th, stating that it had received the "Clarification by the Consumer Council on the Test Results of Nongfu Spring Samples" released by the Council today. The test results fully demonstrate that Nongfu Spring products fully comply with relevant standards and are safe for consumption.