The Best Mineral Water Brands: A Complete Comparison and Sustainability Test

2023-07-16 21:01:07
HomeConsumer

Created: 07/16/2023, 04:46

By: Anna-Lena Kiegerl

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Do you prefer expensive mineral water, or do you prefer the cheap alternative from the discount store? Which water is the best?

Munich – Especially in the current heat wave, nobody should go without water. But only true water drinkers know the difference between different mineral water brands. Does a water taste good or bad – it’s probably a matter of taste. Or does the price play a role? Imported water is offered for up to nine euros per liter, products from discounters often only cost a fraction of that. The ZDF broadcast Wise asked himself this question and did the mineral water check. The own brands of Lidl, Netto and Edeka, as well as Gerolsteiner, Hassia and Selters were compared. These water brands were tested:

Selters medium 62 cents per liter Gerolsteiner medium 59 cents per liter Hassia light 58 cents per liter Good and cheap medium (Edeka) 17 cents per liter Saskia medium (Lidl) 17 cents per liter Naturalis medium (net) 17 cents per liter (source: zdf.de)

Mineral water in the ZDF check: Lidl product brings up the rear in the test

First, the mineral content was tested. Minerals are considered healthy. Calcium, magnesium and sodium in particular are often mentioned. All water has its own mineral composition. Not all of them are healthy for everyone. For example, sodium is unsuitable for people with high blood pressure and for baby food. The water from Gerolsteiner contained the most magnesium and calcium. Least of all the water from Lidl. Selters contained the most sodium, Lidl the least. However, a high mineral content is not only healthy, it also has its own taste. For example, mineral water with a lot of minerals is often a little salty.

The price increases in supermarkets are significantly higher for private labels than for branded products. © Waldmüller/imago

In the taste test of the experts, however, no difference might be determined. There were neither winners nor losers. And even during the laboratory check, no pesticides, such as plant protection products, might be found in any of the tested water, but this is also a requirement in Germany. However, one of the water suppliers recently had to recall a product for another reason.

The mineral water from the ZDF-Check was rated by the customers as follows:

HassiaNettoEdeka, SeltersGerolsteiner, Lidl

Sustainability in mineral water in the ZDF check: Lidl returnable bottles are made from 100 percent recyclate

Finally, the sustainability test of the different waters was pending. The discounter water is only offered in returnable bottles, while the expensive manufacturers offer different packaging variants. However, the proportion of recycled material in the respective returnable bottles differs. The Lidl bottle is made from 100 percent recyclate, the containers from Netto and Edeka are made from 50 percent and the returnable bottles from Hassia and Gerolsteiner are made from 30 percent. When Wiso asked Selters, they received no answer. In times of climate change, sustainable packaging is becoming more and more of an issue. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have now developed an environmentally friendly film.

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