TALLINN — In a case that shines a spotlight on the lack of consumer protection measures in the Baltic states, 770 cases of bottled water contaminated with pathogenic bacteria was on sale at stores at the end of 2009, but the consumers did not hear about it until Thursday when Postimees newspaper broke the story.

The Corynebacterium aquaticum bacteria accidentally entered the Vichy still water bottles on Nov. 17 within four minutes in the beginning of the [private_supervisor]brewing process at the hermetic production line at Saku Brewery’s Aldaris factory in Latvia.

All of the bottles were shipped to and put on sale in Estonian stores in December, but removed from sale once the mistake was discovered by the company. Saku Brewery, the Carlsberg subsidiary that handles the Vichy line beverages in Estonia pulled most of the shipment from stores in January, 80 bottles still reached the consumers.

The company decided not to notify the consumers on the accident as was thought that the bacteria is not dangerous. According to Margus Kastein, marketing director at Saku Brewery, a very small load of Vichy still water was exposed to air in the beginning of the brewing process, causing a harmless micro organism the enter the water bottles.

“We carried out an additional quality control as soon as we discovered the error that happened at the hermetic production line,” Kastein told Baltic Reports.

Kastein said that also a seventh water filter was added to another six filters, and supplemental microbiological tests were carried out in addition to the regular microbiological tests.

“We eliminated the technical errors, and with the help of an additional quality control device we give our best to avoid such situations in the future,” said Kastein.

There have been no reports of sickness caused from drinking the contaminated water.

Health board disagrees

Although this bacteria is a potential threat, its contamination does not require consumer notification under Estonian law. Regardless, Küllike Birk said the company should have notified consumers.

“The microorganism occurs in fresh waters in nature, but are potentially pathogenic and could cause inflammation in different body parts for people with weaker resistance,” Birk told Baltic Reports.

Saku Brewery apologized to customers on Thursday and is offering compensation the bottles with a shipment number 17.05.2010 4B01. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]brewing process at the hermetic production line at Saku Brewery’s Aldaris factory in Latvia.

All of the bottles were shipped to and put on sale in Estonian stores in December, but removed from sale once the mistake was discovered by the company. Saku Brewery, the Carlsberg subsidiary that handles the Vichy line beverages in Estonia pulled most of the shipment from stores in January, 80 bottles still reached the consumers.

The company decided not to notify the consumers on the accident as was thought that the bacteria is not dangerous. According to Margus Kastein, marketing director at Saku Brewery, a very small load of Vichy still water was exposed to air in the beginning of the brewing process, causing a harmless micro organism the enter the water bottles.

“We carried out an additional quality control as soon as we discovered the error that happened at the hermetic production line,” Kastein told Baltic Reports.

Kastein said that also a seventh water filter was added to another six filters, and supplemental microbiological tests were carried out in addition to the regular microbiological tests.

“We eliminated the technical errors, and with the help of an additional quality control device we give our best to avoid such situations in the future,” said Kastein.

There have been no reports of sickness caused from drinking the contaminated water.

Health board disagrees

Although this bacteria is a potential threat, its contamination does not require consumer notification under Estonian law. Regardless, Küllike Birk said the company should have notified consumers.

“The microorganism occurs in fresh waters in nature, but are potentially pathogenic and could cause inflammation in different body parts for people with weaker resistance,” Birk told Baltic Reports.

Saku Brewery apologized to customers on Thursday and is offering compensation the bottles with a shipment number 17.05.2010 4B01. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]brewing process at the hermetic production line at Saku Brewery’s Aldaris factory in Latvia.

All of the bottles were shipped to and put on sale in Estonian stores in December, but removed from sale once the mistake was discovered by the company. Saku Brewery, the Carlsberg subsidiary that handles the Vichy line beverages in Estonia pulled most of the shipment from stores in January, 80 bottles still reached the consumers.

The company decided not to notify the consumers on the accident as was thought that the bacteria is not dangerous. According to Margus Kastein, marketing director at Saku Brewery, a very small load of Vichy still water was exposed to air in the beginning of the brewing process, causing a harmless micro organism the enter the water bottles.

“We carried out an additional quality control as soon as we discovered the error that happened at the hermetic production line,” Kastein told Baltic Reports.

Kastein said that also a seventh water filter was added to another six filters, and supplemental microbiological tests were carried out in addition to the regular microbiological tests.

“We eliminated the technical errors, and with the help of an additional quality control device we give our best to avoid such situations in the future,” said Kastein.

There have been no reports of sickness caused from drinking the contaminated water.

Health board disagrees

Although this bacteria is a potential threat, its contamination does not require consumer notification under Estonian law. Regardless, Küllike Birk said the company should have notified consumers.

“The microorganism occurs in fresh waters in nature, but are potentially pathogenic and could cause inflammation in different body parts for people with weaker resistance,” Birk told Baltic Reports.

Saku Brewery apologized to customers on Thursday and is offering compensation the bottles with a shipment number 17.05.2010 4B01. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]brewing process at the hermetic production line at Saku Brewery’s Aldaris factory in Latvia.

All of the bottles were shipped to and put on sale in Estonian stores in December, but removed from sale once the mistake was discovered by the company. Saku Brewery, the Carlsberg subsidiary that handles the Vichy line beverages in Estonia pulled most of the shipment from stores in January, 80 bottles still reached the consumers.

The company decided not to notify the consumers on the accident as was thought that the bacteria is not dangerous. According to Margus Kastein, marketing director at Saku Brewery, a very small load of Vichy still water was exposed to air in the beginning of the brewing process, causing a harmless micro organism the enter the water bottles.

“We carried out an additional quality control as soon as we discovered the error that happened at the hermetic production line,” Kastein told Baltic Reports.

Kastein said that also a seventh water filter was added to another six filters, and supplemental microbiological tests were carried out in addition to the regular microbiological tests.

“We eliminated the technical errors, and with the help of an additional quality control device we give our best to avoid such situations in the future,” said Kastein.

There have been no reports of sickness caused from drinking the contaminated water.

Health board disagrees

Although this bacteria is a potential threat, its contamination does not require consumer notification under Estonian law. Regardless, Küllike Birk said the company should have notified consumers.

“The microorganism occurs in fresh waters in nature, but are potentially pathogenic and could cause inflammation in different body parts for people with weaker resistance,” Birk told Baltic Reports.

Saku Brewery apologized to customers on Thursday and is offering compensation the bottles with a shipment number 17.05.2010 4B01. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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