First response to the Swiss Federal Food Safety Office's 'Beypazarı mineral water' decision: What is the boron level?

Burak DEMİRBAŞ-12punto.com.tr

The Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office announced that excessive levels of boron had been detected in Beypazarı brand mineral water, and that it is believed to affect fertility as well as fetal development.

The statement included the phrase, "For this reason, a long-term health risk from the product cannot be ruled out," while reporting that the mineral water's distributor in Switzerland, BAK-SAN GmbH, had immediately withdrawn the product from sale and initiated a recall process.

Following the statement in question, Beypazarı food engineer Seyit Ahmet Saygıcı spoke to 12punto.

WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF BORON IN BEYPAZARI MINERAL WATERS?

Saygıcı stated that the boron limit value in Switzerland is 1 mg/liter and the value in Beypazarı mineral waters is at the 1.5-2 mg/liter level, but that these values vary according to the World Health Organization (WHO) as 1.5, 2.4, and 4 mg/liter.

Saygıcı noted that Turkey is rich in boron and that measurements taken in 75 provinces have detected levels as high as 5.5 mg/liter.

Saygıcı stated that in a declaration made by the European Parliament (EP) in 2010-11, this level was also found to be higher than 1 mg/liter across Europe, and that they export to many European countries.

"NO REQUEST FOR A WITNESS SAMPLE WAS MADE"

Saygıcı said that this level had previously appeared high in Germany as well, but that reference values were reached in subsequent measurements. Finally, Saygıcı reported that Switzerland did not make a request for a "witness sample" following their measurement.

News Source: Burak Demirbaş