Bottled water no longer appeals to consumers because the average quantity of plastic particles contained in a bottle of mineral water is very high. Many people today prefer tap water, and do not hesitate to buy carbonators to make it fizzy. Details from Hervé Cabibbo, deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine 60 Million consumers.
franceinfo: Do you confirm that tap water is healthier than bottled water?
Hervé Cabibbo: I wouldn’t venture to say so! But it is true that a study published in a very serious scientific journal last January put forward an estimate: there would be up to 240,000 plastic particles per liter in bottled water. That is 100 times more than the previous estimate that had been made.
Very recently again, it was a few days ago in a confidential note addressed to the Ministry of Health, ANSES (National Agency for Food Safety, Food, Environment and Work), highlighted the quality health of certain bottled waters.
Enough to rehabilitate tap water, even if its quality is not always satisfactory, particularly in certain regions. It is a choice that some consumers make, also keen to reduce their plastic consumption.
The problem is when we like sparkling water, this month in your magazine, you tested 7 carbonation machines. Remind us of the principle…
The gasification process involves dissolving food carbon dioxide, C02, in water to create bubbles. Concretely, C02 contained in a cartridge is injected under pressure into the bottle hermetically attached to the machine.
This is done using the machine’s push button, and according to an elementary principle: the more pressure we emit, the more gas we inject into the water. You can therefore choose your level of carbonation according to your taste, a lot of bubbles or a little less.
But do the cartridges of the machines you tested all have the same autonomy?
Logically, if you like water with a lot of bubbles, and you have a heavy hand on the press button I was talking about, the cartridge will run out more quickly. But taking into account each manufacturer’s recommendations for “medium carbonated” water, we get closer to what is announced by most of them: around 60 liters of water with a single cartridge.
It is important to specify that the cartridges which screw in are “standard”, and that they are therefore compatible with all machines, with the exception of the most recent references from Sodastream which work with a system to clip.
And there is a difference in the quality of the bubbles, are these sparkling waters as attractive as those found commercially?
For our jury, the result is completely satisfactory, provided of course that you have suitable tap water. With the advantage of being able to choose, for each production, its bubble level.
There are also those that allow you to add flavorings. Is that conclusive?
Two manufacturers in fact market flavors to use with their machine: Pepsi, Lipton, flavored lemonades, syrup and many others in the form of concentrates. The idea is obviously to be able to make your own soda at home.
Our experts, of course, wanted to compare, for example, Cola with the original Coca-Cola, and the result was not conclusive. The verdict is even harsh, it’s even sweeter than Coke, and the taste is way too different. In short, it will be difficult to lure Coke lovers.
And for the bottles, can we take any one?
No, unlike gas cartridges, the bottles are not interchangeable, you will have to use the bottle(s) supplied with the machine. And buy some from the manufacturer or from a household appliance store if necessary.
Curiously, the vast majority of these machines use plastic bottles, specifically polyethylene terephthalate, more commonly known as PET. Only one model in our test opted for glass bottles.
But in terms of hygiene, this raises the question, it is stagnant water, should we take a minimum of precaution before drinking this sparkling water?
Some manufacturers specify in their instructions that the water thus produced must be consumed within two days. But the most important thing is not to keep PET bottles beyond the expiry dates, these being specified on the bottles themselves.
Clearly, you have to buy new ones every two years, because over time, PET bottles deteriorate. Or opt for a machine that works with glass bottles.
In terms of economics, is it really profitable, can we evaluate it?
So, there is no photo, it is very economical. 0.22 euros at best per liter of sparkling water, we are really three to four times cheaper than a liter of Perrier or Badoit. But be careful, not counting the cost of the machine, or the renewal of PET bottles.
What is the average price of a device?
Most are in the 80-120 euro range, but top prices start at 60 euros. All are delivered with one, or even two bottles, and, with the exception of one model, with a gas cartridge.
What advice could you give to franceinfo listeners before buying a carbonating machine?
First, take the time to monitor prices, which fluctuate surprisingly from one month to the next, and without any logic. In any case, this is what we observed. And not to miss the promotional periods which follow one another very regularly.
Then, favor a system with glass bottles. It’s more ecological and allows you to complete the process of stopping using plastic for your mineral water.