Campaign to urge public not to drink beverages exposed to direct sunlight, heat

AMMAN — A nationwide campaign will be launched soon to raise awareness on the dangers of drinking bottled water and other beverages that have been exposed to heat, an official said Tuesday.

In a country where 80 per cent of its central regions’ residents buy their drinking water, according to a recent study, bottled water is considered a premium product that requires strict regulations to ensure its safety, according to a health ministry official.

“Despite carrying out several campaigns, the habit of exposing bottled drinks to direct sunlight is still practised in many local shops,” Salah Hiyari, director of the Health Ministry’s environmental health department, told The Jordan Times.

He underlined that there are certain requirements for storing the bottles, but shop owners’ “profit mentality” overrides any other considerations.

“They keep exposing bottled liquids to the sun despite the warnings,” Hiyari said, noting that the chemicals in the plastic bottles react to the heat, releasing hazardous substances and affecting the quality of the water.

The best way to deal with the issue is to convince the public not to buy bottled drinks that are exposed to heat and sunlight, according to the health official.