Local bottled water contains potential carcinogen

Bottled, locally sourced water containing bromate, is considered to be potentially carcinogenic according to the Northern Cyprus Rapid Consumer Goods Suppliers Association (TUTDER).

According to report by, Kibris Postasi, TUTDER published an open letter (Open Letter 2) addressed to Prime Minister Ünal Üstel stating that:

“Almost all of the well/ground water produced and bottled in the country is offered to the use of consumers by the “reverse osmosis” method. So the local water we use for drinking is processed water. It is ozonated water. This water is no longer natural spring water”.

Although few by-products are formed by ozonation, ozone reacts with bromide ions in water to produce bromate. [Wiki]

TUTDER stated that they examined an old study by the Ministry of Health, noting that there has been no change in the subject, and stated that “Bromate will continue to show its carcinogenic face”.

The Association also emphasised that the occurrence of bromate, which potentially causes cancer and prevents the development of children, in bottled local waters after the Reverse Osmosis treatment does not happen by chance but from a biological/chemical process.

Following a statement by the Northern Cyprus Rapid Consumer Goods Suppliers Association (TUTDER) that bottled spring water contains bromate produced by ‘reverse osmosis’ treatment, the Ministry of Health announced that the department continues to work meticulously in order to provide safe water to the public within the framework of the Bottled Spring Water and Drinking Water Law. This law is compatible with Turkey and the EU, the ministry said, Kibris Postasi reports.

The ministry stated that bottled water is produced by methods used and approved worldwide.

In the statement, the health ministry said the following:

“The TSHD, affiliated to the Ministry of Health, takes samples for chemical and microbiological analyses every month from 20 water factories, 28 stations and water cabins in line with the responsibility and authority given to it by these laws and regulations.

“The results of the analysis are published on the website of the ministry, and in case of any negative microbiological or chemical result, both a fine is written within the legal framework, and production is stopped until the analysis results of the samples taken again are positive after the company performs its corrective actions.

“During the May-October period, 594 samples were analysed. The results are shared on the official page of the Ministry of Health.

“We emphasise that any food and beverage that is under the control of the Ministry of Health in the TRNC and consumed by our people can be trusted unless our office confirms that it is uncontrolled or harmful to health, and we reiterate that our priority is the public’s health”.

Kibris Postasi, LGC News