Bottled water is the most dynamic market of the food and beverage industry. The term "bottled water" doesn't refer to one single product, and the same designation can be given to qualify different goods, depending on the country of production. Three major types of bottled water can be identified.- Natural mineral water is, in the European Union, an extremely specific product subject to strict criteria. It is wholesome underground, still or aerated water, protected against pollution hazards and characterized by a constant level of mineral and trace element content. This water is not treated, nor are exogenous elements added, such as flavors or other additives. The United States requires that natural mineral water has a minimum level of 250 ppm total dissolved solids.- Spring water in Europe is also under-ground water protected against pollution hazards. It must not be treated in any way but it does not need to have a constant mineral composition. Water from different springs can be sold under the same brand name. In the United States, spring water is derived from underground sources, from which water flows naturally to the earth's surface.- Purified water is surface or underground water that has been treated in order to be suitable for human consumption. It differs from tap water only through the way it is distributed (in bottles rather than through pipes), and in price.
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