MFDA Warns of Health Risks from Storing Bottled Water in Heat and Direct Sunlight
Storing or transporting bottled water in direct heat and sunlight poses serious health risks, the MFDA warns.
The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has warned that transporting and storing bottled water under direct sunlight or elevated temperatures could pose chemical, biological and physical health risks.
Information released by the authority under a Right to Information (RTI) request states that exposing polyethene terephthalate (PET) bottles to heat and ultraviolet radiation can increase the migration of chemical constituents, including antimony, into drinking water. Prolonged exposure may pose potential toxicological risks, according to the document.
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The document also identifies the possible migration of heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel, under conditions of direct sunlight and thermal stress. It notes that such exposure may raise both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health concerns.
Elevated temperatures can also promote microbial growth, potentially increasing bacterial contamination and the risk of waterborne diseases.
The authority further notes that prolonged exposure to heat and sunlight can contribute to the degradation of plastic packaging and the release of microplastics into bottled water. Changes in water quality indicators, including pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids, may also occur.
Heat-induced chemical reactions can additionally affect the taste and smell of bottled water, resulting in off-tastes and unpleasant odours.
In response to concerns over the handling of bottled water and other food products, the MFDA is currently developing regulations governing their transport and storage under the Food Safety Act.
The authority also inspects water production facilities as part of the licensing process, including their distribution and supply procedures. According to the information provided, the MFDA investigates complaints concerning improper handling and conducts targeted inspections where necessary, with corrective action taken when violations are identified.
However, official records indicate that no local scientific study has yet been conducted in the Maldives to specifically assess the effects of heat and direct sunlight exposure on bottled water.
The records also clarify that systematic monitoring of the handling of food, general goods and bottled water across retail, wholesale and local market spaces is not currently being carried out as a proactive initiative by the MFDA.
Such monitoring is expected to be introduced under the Food Safety Act once the relevant regulations and operational frameworks are established.
The issue is particularly relevant at local shops, where cases of bottled water are frequently kept outdoors in direct sunlight, potentially exposing the bottles to high temperatures before they reach consumers.
