According to McCartney, there would be no quality evidence to support such a recommendation.
In fact, not only is there independent scientific support in favour of a water intake of two litres a day from the highest EU scientific body (European Food Safety Authority, EFSA), but it goes contrary to public health interest to discourage people from drinking water whether from a bottle or from a tap.
The European Federation of Bottled Waters has sent this statement to its members:
In its Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for Water dated March 2010, EFSA stated that ‘Water is essential for practically all functions of the body and is particularly important for thermoregulation’, adding that ‘A water intake which balances losses and thereby assures adequate hydration of body tissues is essential for health and life’.
In said opinion, EFSA recommended a total water intake of 2.0 litres a day for adult women and 2.5 litres a day for adult men, under normal conditions of activity and temperature. The EFSA panel considered that solid foods will contribute 20% of that amount only.
In April 2011, EFSA recognised the role of water in the ‘maintenance of normal physical and body functions’ and ‘in the maintenance of normal thermoregulation’ and delivered a favourable opinion for the use of claims related to those benefits. In both instances, EFSA concluded that to obtain the claimed effect, at least two litres of water should be consumed per day and that such an amount can be easily consumed as part of a balanced diet’.
From a public health perspective, especially taking into account growing obesity problems, water has a special role to play towards a healthy diet and therefore drinking water should be promoted.
Source: European Federation of Bottled Waters/FoodBev Media
Bill Bruce is group editorial director of FoodBev Media. You can contact him here
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