According to the National Food Safety Standard for Drinking Natural Mineral Water (GB 8537-2018), drinking natural mineral water refers to water that naturally springs from deep underground or is collected through drilling, containing a certain amount of minerals, trace elements, or other components, and is uncontaminated in a specific area with preventative measures taken to avoid pollution. It must be bottled directly at the water source, and at least one of the water's limit indicators must meet the national standard's specified value. Only carbon dioxide is permitted as an added ingredient.
This standard divides water quality indicators into two main categories: limit indicators and limit indicators. Limit indicators are the main quality indicators that distinguish drinking natural mineral water from other drinking water; at least one must be met to be recognized as natural mineral water. Limit indicators include lithium, strontium, zinc, selenium, iodide, metasilicic acid, free carbon dioxide, and total dissolved solids. For example, the metasilicic acid content must be ≥25.0 mg/L, and the strontium content must be ≥0.20 mg/L (when the content is in the range of 0.20-0.40 mg/L, the water temperature must be above 25℃).
The limits specify the maximum permissible levels of pollutants, and all limits must be met. These include fluoride < 2.00 mg/L and nitrate < 45.0 mg/L.
