ŠVPS SR: Natura water samples from investigated batch met requirements

The State Veterinary and Food Administration (ŠVPS) of the Slovak Republic has announced that laboratory analyses of Natura bottled water samples from the batch involved in a recent health incident have “vyhoveli požiadavkám platnej legislatívy”. Following a month-long investigation, officials stated that the direct fault of the manufacturer appears to be unproven, as no additional traces of caustic substances were found in the tested samples. The agency noted that the mystery surrounding the unknown corrosive agent remains unresolved.

Investigation into the September Incident

The case originated on September 11 at the Hostinec u Petra tavern in Kráľová pri Senci, where a minor suffered health complications after consuming liquid from a 500-milliliter PET bottle labeled as Natura spring water. Initial inspections at the tavern revealed the liquid had a pH level of 14, suggesting the presence of a strong alkaline corrosive agent. The Public Health Authority (ÚVZ) SR had previously warned that such a substance could cause chemical burns to the digestive tract and mouth. The specific bottle in question was purchased at a Metro retail store located in Ivanka pri Dunaji, according to information provided by the ÚVZ SR.

Authorities traced the bottle to a Metro retail location in Ivanka pri Dunaji, prompting a wide-scale regulatory response. Regional veterinary and food administrations conducted inspections across hundreds of establishments to suspend the sale of the specific batch while its safety was verified. The authority previously urged consumers not to drink the product and to return any bottles from the batch to stores.

Ongoing Criminal Investigation

While food safety inspections have cleared the batch of systematic contamination, the mystery surrounding the caustic substance remains unresolved. The State Veterinary and Food Administration reported that inspections conducted by the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (SZPI) at the manufacturing site confirmed the batch was distributed exclusively to customers in Slovakia.

• Laboratory samples taken from the distribution chain met all legal requirements.
• The case remains under investigation by law enforcement authorities.
• Officials are working to determine whether the contamination occurred during production, distribution, storage, or at the point of sale.

The findings have been shared through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) to facilitate information exchange among member states as the criminal inquiry continues. This investigation follows a series of widespread inspections initiated after the incident, which moved the dangerous mineral water case forward.