REPORT OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER/LANCASHIRE/PRESTON
MICROBIOLOGY SERVICES LIAISON GROUP SURVEY OF THE
MICROBIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF RETAIL STILL BOTTLED
WATERS FOR CAMPYLOBACTER SPP.
K Williamson, G Allen, F J Bolton
Food and Environmental Microbiology Services, Preston
Date of report : May 2004
Survey Code : 404001
Introduction
Campylobacter is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the UK but its source is
often undetermined. It has been highlighted that in order to work towards a twenty
per cent reduction in foodborne disease by April 2006 in line with the Food Standards
Agency target, more emphasis needs to be placed on campylobacter.
It has been reported that bottled water may be responsible for a significant proportion
of campylobacter infections (1). Interviews with 213 campylobacter patients led
researchers at the University of Wales to link 12% of cases to consumption of bottled
water. It must be emphasised that a statistical association only has been indicated and
that water samples were not examined.
Consumption of bottled water in the UK continues to increase by approximately 10%
every year, so if such a link was confirmed, it could be a significant factor
contributing to the rise in campylobacter cases from 2000 annual cases in the 1970’s
to the current 50,000 annual cases.
As a consequence of this statistical association, the increasing market of bottled water,
and the need for studies to determine the sources of campylobacter, it was decided to
carry out a survey on the presence/absence of campylobacter in bottled waters.
Materials and Methods
Sample Collection
This survey was carried out as part of the Greater Manchester FLG/Lancashire
FOG/Preston Microbiology Services Sampling Programme during January – April
2004.
Bottles of any type of still bottled water (1 litre minimum) either of UK origin or
imported were purchased by local authority sampling officers from any type of retail
outlet. Information relating to the premises, sample details and country of origin was
recorded on a modified FEMS-NW water request form.
(KW/KLM (404001rep)
Page 1 of 4
Sample Examination
A total of 397 bottled water samples including spring waters, table waters and other
mineral waters of which 94 were natural mineral waters were submitted by 25/26
authorities in Greater Manchester and Lancashire as detailed in Appendix 1.
One litre of each sample was filtered using a 0.2m cellulose nitrate filter and
examined using the UKAS accredited FEMS-NW water method for detection of
Campylobacter.
RESULTS
Table 1.
Microbiology results (n = 397)
Campylobacter
Detected
Not detected
0
397
Discussion
Under European law there are two types of bottled waters: bottled natural mineral
water and all other bottled waters including spring waters, table waters and purified
waters.
Natural mineral waters receive no treatment other than filtration and are drawn from
protected sources that are free from contaminants. Spring waters and table waters
may be treated so as to ensure they are not contaminated.
A variety of organisms including coliforms can survive for a considerable length of
time particularly in uncarbonated water (2).
It is well established that the carbon dioxide in carbonated water has an antimicrobial
effect, hence this study concentrated on still waters.
It has been suggested that the reason why campylobacter has not been isolated from
bottled waters may be simply because testing for campylobacter is rarely undertaken
(1). Campylobacter was not detected from a wide variety of 397 bottled still waters in
this study. Hence these findings do not support the hypothesis that bottled water may
be an important vehicle of transmission for campylobacter. However it is of concern
that campylobacter is a small organism that filtration alone may not remove and there
may be a need for this parameter to be included in the manufacturers quality control
testing procedures.
Conclusion
1.
Campylobacter was not isolated from any of the 397 samples examined in this
study.
(KW/KLM (404001rep)
Page 2 of 4
2.
Campylobacter should be recommended as a quality control test parameter
particularly for natural mineral waters. Although these waters are derived
from protected unpolluted sources, reliance on filtration alone may be a risk
factor because of the small size of campylobacter.
Frequent testing at production would address this observed critical control
point.
Future work

A more extensive study taking into consideration, seasonality particularly related
to the established human campylobacter incidence peaks is required in order to
confirm the findings of this study and that bottled waters are not a risk factor
associated with campylobacter infecton.
References
(1)
M R Evans et al. Hazards of health living : Bottled water and salad vegetables
as risk factors for campylobacter infection. Emerging Inf. Dis. 2003; Volume
9, No. 10.
(2)
Hunter P.R. The Microbiology of bottled mineral waters. J. Appl. Bacteriol.
1993; 74: 345-53.
(KW/KLM (404001rep)
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Appendix 1
-
Participants
Barrow
Blackburn
Blackpool
Bolton
Burnley
Bury
Chorley
Fylde
Hyndburn
Lancaster
Manchester
Oldham
Pendle
Preston
Ribble Valley
Rochdale
Rossendale
Salford
South Lakes
South Ribble
Stockport
Tameside
Trafford
West Lancs
Wigan
Wyre
TOTAL
(KW/KLM (404001rep)
Total number
of samples
15
12
46
16
19
12
13
20
7
20
0
16
16
20
12
19
6
16
13
16
16
13
15
15
12
12
397
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