Dive Brief:

• Out of 130 bottled water brands tested, Consumer Reports found 11 contained detectable arsenic levels, including six with 3 parts per billion or more. The federal standard for arsenic in bottled water is 10 ppb, but Consumer Reports said current research suggests levels above 3 ppb “are potentially dangerous to drink over extended periods of time.”

• The six with 3 ppb or higher were Whole Foods’ Starkey brand, Keurig Dr Pepper’s Peñafiel, Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water, Danone’s Volvic, and the Crystal Creamery and EartH2O regional brands.

• Following Consumer Reports’ inquiries, ​Keurig Dr Pepper conducted new tests and found average arsenic levels of 17 ppb in Peñafiel samples. The company suspended production at its bottling plant in Mexico for two weeks and told Consumer Reports it was improving filtration. The company did not issue a recall.

Dive Insight:

Consumer Reports is using this investigation to show that more consistent regulation of bottled water is needed. Arsenic is “a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land,” according to the World Health Organization.