Cap Safety Information
Over the course of the last several years, we have been reducing the plastic in our bottles and caps, making our packaging lighter and more environmentally friendly. The cap on our 12 ounce, 16 ounce, 20 ounce, 700mL, .5 Liter, 1 Liter, and 1.5 Liter products has the least amount of plastic, with the cap for these size products smaller than other caps. In light of that, we have applied the following label statement:
WARNING: Cap is a small part and poses a CHOKING HAZARD, particularly for children.
Consumers should be advised that small parts, including our caps, should not be put in the mouth. Additionally, caps should always be replaced securely on bottles when not in use or discarded promptly.
Ozarka® Brand Natural Spring Water provides consumers of all ages with a variety of on-the-go beverage options to enjoy any time of day. The safety and quality of our bottled water products are our top priorities. We regularly conduct tests on all of our bottles and our waters for safety, quality and performance.
Water Source Identification: Ozarka identifies water sources on its bottle labels and/or online. Purified water products are treated by reverse osmosis, UV and ozone disinfection for added safety assurance and enhanced with minerals for consistent and pleasing taste. Bottled water products from each BlueTriton Brands bottling line are tested 250 times annually to ensure quality.
Quality Reports
Since 2005, we have made quality reports publicly available for all of our brands and are based on independent testing results from certified laboratories.
Easy Consumer Access to Information: Consumer questions and comments can be directed to our toll-free number, which is listed on the label of each bottle.
Storage and Handling
To maintain the high quality of our bottled water products, we recommend people store all of our products in a cool, clean, or shaded location, as they would any other packaged food product.
Food Packaging Safety & Regulation
These days, folks are busier than ever. That’s why we use packaging that fits this fast-paced lifestyle and is considered safe by regulatory and public health agencies. We evaluate new packaging materials and make changes to our products when there is a clear environmental, health and/or economic benefit.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for overseeing the safety of bottled water, which, like other food products such as infant formula and seafood, must be processed, packaged, shipped and stored in a safe and sanitary manner, and be truthfully and accurately labeled. Bottled water is one of the most regulated food products, with FDA protocols specific to bottled water processing and labeling.
Chemicals from plastic packaging can migrate over time, but the FDA sets conservative limits for the amounts it considers safe for human consumption. Ozarka and our suppliers comply with the FDA’s packaging and health-based regulations.
All of our “single-serve” bottles from 8 ounces to 3 liter that are made from non-recycled PET #1 plastic, as well as our 1 gallon and 2.5 gallon bottles made from non-recycled HDPE #2 plastic, are completely BPA free. The FDA classifies PET as safe for packaging and has authorized its use for decades.
All of our 5-gallon bottles are now made of PET #1 plastic, which is BPA free. Our 3-gallon bottles are currently made from polycarbonate #7 plastic, a strong, clear and reusable type of plastic. In tests, water packaged in our polycarbonate bottles has been found to contain trace levels (less than 1 part per billion) of BPA. Based on consumer preference, we are planning to transition our 3-gallon bottles to BPA-free plastic bottles in the future — which could be coming to a store near you. Learn more about BPA here.
Recycling and Reuse of Bottles
We recommend that our water bottles be recycled, not reused. Every bottle produced by Ozarka is recyclable.
Our single serve bottles are not intended for multiple uses since PET plastic can break down from repeated washings and reuse, eventually allowing human bacteria into the contents. Instead, we recommend the bottles be used once and then recycled.
Our 3- and 5-gallon home and office delivery containers can be returned to the factory for washing and refilling. We take care to use the right detergent types and washing conditions to ensure effective cleaning without degrading the polymer.
Recycling keeps materials out of landfills (and everyone is in favor of that). Recycling your bottles helps close the loop on PET plastic, and we encourage all our consumers to recycle. You’ll feel great doing it — and the Earth will be a better place because of it.