[Medical Q&A] Is mineral water mineral water?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Gong Weiyan, Associate Researcher, Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

"Mineral water" and "mineral water" sound similar, but in fact they are different in their sources, mineral content and processing methods.

From the perspective of source and mineral content, mineral water is water that naturally gushes out from deep underground or is extracted through drilling. After being filtered through geological layers, it contains naturally occurring minerals and trace elements, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfur, etc. The content of these minerals varies depending on the geological conditions of the water source; mineral water is water made by artificially adding minerals to ordinary drinking water. Its water source is usually tap water or other treated drinking water. The minerals in mineral water can be added in accordance with the "Sanitary Standards for the Use of Food Additives" (GB2760-2007). From the perspective of treatment methods, mineral water usually undergoes only minimal treatment (such as filtration and disinfection) to maintain its natural properties. Of course, its production process has strict regulatory requirements, such as it must come from a specific water source and no ingredients can be added or removed. The production process of mineral water includes steps such as filtration, disinfection, and the addition of minerals to ensure that the water quality is safe and the mineral content meets the standards. Of course, its production and sales also need to comply with relevant food safety regulations. Compared with mineral water, the price of mineral water is usually lower, and due to the different ways of adding minerals, the taste of mineral water may be different from that of natural mineral water. Which one to choose can be determined based on personal needs, health status, taste preferences and other factors.