The St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards): The St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards in its latest round of testing of bottled water in St. Kitts and Nevis found that samples taken from Island Purified Water failed the necessary testing.
As a result, the Department of Environmental Health has initiated a programme to remove from consumption all bottled water produced by Island Purified Water within the last two weeks. This is being done out of an abundance of caution while further testing and corrective measures are being undertaken. Consumers should not drink any water that was distributed from Island Purified Water within the last two weeks as it may result in diarrheal illness.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards, in collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Health, is actively addressing this matter and will keep the public duly informed. For further information or to submit queries, the general public was asked to contact the Chief Medical Officer (Acting) Dr. Cameron Wilkinson. Meanwhile the Ag. CMO Dr Cameron Wilkinson speaking to local media on Saturday categorically dismissed rumours and speculation that the IPW recall was due to the presence of fecal matter in the water.
”I can categorically say that that is not correct and we must understand that coliform bacteria can be found in any aquatic environment,” Acting CMO Dr. Cameron Wilkinson told Local Media Saturday (July 23, 2016).“It is found naturally in the soil and it can be found on vegetation, but they are also present in large amounts in the feces of warm-blooded animals not just human beings…The coliform count is an indicator of the [sanitary state] of food and water, and this is what we usually test for when we’re examining to see whether or not water or food is of the proper quality, so the water that was tested failed the coliform test but this is in no way indicating the coliform came from human feces,” Dr. Wilkinson emphasized.
higher than normal levels of the coliform bacteria were found during routine sampling, not because of reported illness, the MO explained.“As the advisory indicated, we’re doing this out of an abundance of caution in that there has not been any report of an increase in any diarrheal illnesses or any illnesses that we can associate with the drinking of Island Purified Water.
I can tell you that I drink Island Purified Water several times a day, every day for the last several years, and I had my last bottle…yesterday, and after we’ve done our necessary investigations and the problem is addressed I will again begin to drink Island Purified Water.” In the meantime Dr. Wilkinson is advising consumers to discard any Island Purified Water that they have, indicating that it is best not to use it even for cooking or washing dishes.
“The best advice I can give to you, is for you to discard the water that you have… because I believe it is easier for one to replace it than to take the risk of using it.” Meanwhile the Founder/Owner of IPW returned to the federation on Saturday and is expected to make a statement later today Monday