連結：雀巢礦泉水在美被起訴:消費者說它只是普通地下水
北美雀巢飲用水（Nestle Waters North America）的「Poland Spring Water」瓶裝水，被指涉嫌以地下水混充成天然礦泉水來出售，投訴民眾指出，所謂百分百來自緬因州山林的天然礦泉水，實際上卻是從緬因州人口稠密區所鑽取的地下水，這些取水處有著潛在污染源，甚至靠近垃圾場或廢棄物處理場。
據美國食品藥物管理局（FDA）定義，礦泉水為「從地下水中自然流向地表的水」，但投訴民眾稱雀巢的礦泉水都是由機器抽取水源，而非天然湧出，他們將求償至少500萬美元賠償。
雀巢飲用水公司透過聲明駁斥指控，強調「Poland Spring Water」的確是百分百天然泉水，符合FDA標準，並批評這些投訴民眾操縱司法來謀取利益，有信心能在接下來的法律程序及判決結果上獲勝。
此前，雀巢旗下的Poland Spring就因類似原因被起訴過。早在2003年，雀巢就出了1200萬美元庭下和解了一樁集體訴訟。訴訟稱，Poland Spring的水是井水，而不是活的礦泉水，也不像廣告里說的那樣純凈。雀巢把當時的和解稱為「公平合理的解決方案」。
小編評：美國FDA相關法規在 21 C.F.R. Part 165 裡面（搜尋＂spring water＂），裡面寫道：
The name of water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth may be “spring water.” Spring water shall be collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring.
There shall be a natural force causing the water to flow to the surface through a natural orifice. The location of the spring shall be identified. Spring water collected with the use of an external force shall be from the same underground stratum as the spring, as shown by a measurable hydraulic connection using a hydrogeologically valid method between the bore hole and the natural spring, and shall have all the physical properties, before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality, as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth.
If spring water is collected with the use of an external force, water must continue to flow naturally to the surface of the earth through the spring’s natural orifice. Plants shall demonstrate, on request, to appropriate regulatory officials, using a hydrogeologically valid method, that an appropriate hydraulic connection exists between the natural orifice of the spring and the bore hole.
另外，小邊還有找到這個案子在美國地方法院的文件（Case 3:17-cv-01381-JAM Document 1 Filed 08/15/17 Page 1 of 325），裡面有各個爭點與兩造看法，大家也可以下載來看看喔。