SAFETY & HANDLING
The details of all we do for our consumers
CAP SAFETY INFORMATION
Over the past several years, we’ve been reducing the plastic in our bottles and caps, making our packaging lighter and more environmentally friendly. The Cap on our 8 fluid ounce, 12 fluid ounce, 16 fluid ounce, 20 fluid ounce, .5 Liter, 1 Liter, and 1.5 Liter products has the least amount of plastic, with the cap for these size products smaller than other caps. As a result, we’ve applied the following label statement:
WARNING: Cap is a small part and poses a CHOKING HAZARD, particularly for children.
Consumers should note that small parts, including our caps, should not be put in the mouth. Additionally, caps should always be replaced securely on bottles when not in use or discarded promptly.
Poland Spring® Brand Maine Spring Water gives consumers of all ages a variety of on-the-go beverage options to enjoy any time of day. The safety and quality of our bottled water products are incredibly important to us — in fact, they’re our top priorities.
WATER SOURCE IDENTIFICATION
One thing we definitely do not have is an identity crisis. The Poland Spring® brand identifies its water sources on its bottled water labels and/or online.
We have a robust quality monitoring program for both the product and the package that includes checks every hour for every production line in operation.
QUALITY REPORTS
Since 2005, quality reports we have made quality reports based on independent testing results from certified laboratories publicly available for all of our brands.
Easy Consumer Access to Information: Consumer questions and comments can be directed to our toll-free number, which is listed on the label of each bottle.
STORAGE AND HANDLING
To maintain the high quality of our bottled water products, we recommend people store all of our products in a cool, clean or shaded location, as they would any other packaged food product. If you wouldn’t leave a lobster in the sun for hours on end in the summer, you shouldn’t leave a bottle of water out either. Mmm. Lobster.
FOOD PACKAGING SAFETY & REGULATION
Every detail of safety counts — right down to the packaging. We use packaging that fits into the lives of today’s busiest folks and is considered safe by regulatory and public health agencies. We take a look at new packaging materials and make changes to our products when there’s a clear environmental, health and/or economic benefit.
The FDA provides regulations that guide manufacturers in creating a framework of quality controls to oversee the safety of their products. Foods such as Bottled water, Beverages, Dairy, Produce, Spices, Nuts, Cereals, must be processed, packaged, shipped and stored in a safe and sanitary manner, and be truthfully and accurately labeled. Bottled water is one of the most regulated food products; the FDA has protocols specific to bottled water processing and labeling.
RECYCLING AND REUSE OF BOTTLES
All of our bottles smaller than 3 gallons are intended to be used just once and then recycled (we do not recommend refilling them).
Our 3- and 5-gallon home and office delivery containers can be returned to the factory for washing and refilling, but never fear! We take care to use the right detergent types and washing conditions to ensure effective cleaning without degrading the polymer. When these bottles are damaged and no longer reusable, they are also recyclable.
One of the many benefits of recycling is that it helps to reduce the amount of materials going to landfills. Recycling your bottles helps to close the loop on PET plastic, and we encourage all our consumers to recycle (following the instructions on the bottle). So go ahead! Toss 'em in the big blue bins. Mother Earth thanks you.
