Compliance to Labelling Regulations for Packaged Drinking Water

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed at determining compliance to labeling regulations by manufacturers of packaged drinking water products in Jos North LGA. METHOD: Seven (7) bottled water and 11sachet water commonly sold in the area were sampled. Information on NAFDAC registration number, mineral content on the label, batch number, and expiry date were documented. RESULT: All the bottled water were registered with NAFDAC while 42.9%, 71.5%, 57.1% of these have the mineral content, batch number and expiry date respectively, printed on their labels. The sachet water samples showed a lower level of compliance with 54.50% having NAFDAC registration number, while information on the mineral content, batch number and expiry date was not indicated. The level of compliance between bottled water and sachet water showed a significant difference with respect to NAFDAC number, mineral content, batch number and expiry date (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings show that the packaged water producers do not fully comply with stipulated regulations required to guarantee the quality and safety of water consumed within Jos metropolis, though compliance is better with bottled water than with sachet water.