Just recently Malaysian bottled water brand Starfresh was recalled because of bacterial contamination. Now, Malee Mineral Water Sdn Bhd is being recalled for the exact same bacteria being found in the water. This bacteria is normally found in faeces.
Firstly, Starfresh bottled water was found to be contaminated with an environmental bacteria. This led to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) banning all imports of this water into Singapore.
In addition to that, the Ministry of Health in Malaysia has suspended its license.
And now the same bacteria has been found in bottled water from Malee Mineral Water Sdn Bhd. In accordance to this, SFA has also banned the import of all bottled water from this brand.
The factory also voluntarily withdrew other bottled water products. This includes Iceberg, Sukahati, Rofina, Dixy Green, and Dixy Blue.
The bacteria found in the bottled water is Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is commonly found in faeces, sewage, and soil. So we know for sure that it is not coming from anywhere good.
Water is the perfect home for the bacteria to multiply. Even organic materials that touch water is enough for it to grow in numbers.
This bacteria is known for being able to attack a weakened immune system. Those who are falling ill or have certain conditions will be easily affected.
And the worst part is that this bacteria is very resistant to common antibiotics and disinfectants. This means you will need stronger antibiotics to fight it off.
However, the good news is that drinking contaminated water is not the main source of infection. Studies find that infections from it is usually caused through contact with wounds.
For now, it might be best to stay away from bottled water whenever possible.
