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In the EU, Water Doesn't (Officially) Prevent Dehydration

Posted by timothy on from the you-need-prescription-only-dihydrogen-monoxide dept.

New Kohath writes with this news from The Guardian: "Bottled water producers applied to the EU for the right to claim that 'regular consumption of significant amounts of water can reduce the risk of development of dehydration'. The health claim was reviewed by a panel of 21 scientists on behalf of the European Food Standards Authority. The application was denied, and now producers of bottled water are forbidden by law from making the claim. They will face a two-year jail sentence if they defy the EU edict."

18 of 815 comments (clear)

  1. And in the US by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ketchup is a vegetable (even though a tomato is technically a fruit).

    1. Re:And in the US by dakohli · · Score: 3, Funny

      No more disgusting than gravy/cheese curds or mayonnaise on french fries.

      Ahhh, Poutine, one of the best things to come out of Quebec!

      I lived there for about 6 months back in 1989, and it took me a couple of months before I tried it. mmmmmmmmmmm

    2. Re:And in the US by arth1 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Culinarily, a fruit is sweet and a vegetable savory. That's the big difference

      I think you need to add a qualifier to fruit "and grows above ground". Cause carrots, rutabaga and beets are all pretty sweet.
      Then there are fruits like avocado and plantains, which don't even follow that rule.

      My rule:
      If your mother forced you to eat it, it was a vegetable.

    3. Re:And in the US by guttentag · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think that's the wrong response. Better response should be, why should the two categories be taxed at different rates? Another good question would be, why tax basic foods such as fruits and vegetables?

      You're obviously not from the U.S. We believe in a link between taxation and representation (See Boston Tea Party). Many people think this means that if you are taxed, you must be represented, but it works the other way too. Since the majority of people register to vote as "Fruits" (people with outlandish ideas and little respect for the status quo) or "Vegetables" (unexciting people who seem to have a level of brain activity on par with a cucumber) and each of those groups is already represented by its own political party, it only made sense to tax them. Of course, one group believes everyone should be taxed equally (flat tax) and the other group believes in taxing at different rates (tax the rich). This is a constant source of ongoing debate, but most people believe that both fruits and vegetables should be taxed. There is a third group, known as the "nuts," who believe no one should be taxed, but no one takes them or Ron Paul seriously -- they serve mostly as diversionary entertainment when we get tired of hearing the fruits and veggies bicker.

      Thus endeth the lesson on American politics.

  2. Brawndo will take care of that by stox · · Score: 5, Funny

    After all, it has Electrolytes!

    --
    "To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
    1. Re:Brawndo will take care of that by Dahamma · · Score: 4, Funny

      Damn, second post and you already beat me to it! So then, to provide something useful to the thread, I give you:

      THE THIRST MUTILATOR!

    2. Re:Brawndo will take care of that by not_surt · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's got what Europeans crave.

  3. Re:Let's be accurate here by the+eric+conspiracy · · Score: 5, Funny

    The times I have been in Europe drinking tap water led to dehydration.

  4. Re:Let's be accurate here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Water doesn't come from a keg.

  5. Re:Let's be accurate here by Vinegar+Joe · · Score: 5, Funny

    France was behind this.
    En France, we drink wine in place of water.

    Well.....that certainly explains the past 230 years of French history.

    --
    "The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
  6. Re:Let's be accurate here by msauve · · Score: 5, Funny

    That stuff on tap in Germany isn't water.

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  7. The U.S. Surgeon General has determined... by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... that bottled water causes lobbyists.

  8. brought to you by... by way2slo · · Score: 1, Funny

    Brawndo! The Thirst Mutilator!

  9. House protects pizza as a vegetable by wisebabo · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2011/11/18/us/life-us-usa-lunch.html?scp=1&sq=House%20protects%20pizza&st=cse

    Ok, ok I know that we're talking about Republicans here but still it shows stupidity is rampant on both sides of the Atlantic!

  10. Re:Let's be accurate here by formfeed · · Score: 3, Funny

    If the EU wants to prevent this type of misleading advertisement, my regulation-loving communist heart is all with them

    Otherwise you soon have bottled water with a sticker "Can prevent deadly dehydration!", corn syrup saying "Fat free", and on the lard package:"naturally low in carbohydrates!"
    -And who would want to live in a country like that ?!

    (That was a rhetorical question - If you're an American, you can put your hand down again.)

  11. Water is for washincg by pesho · · Score: 3, Funny

    In Eu water is for washing things. If you are thirsty, there is beer in the fridge.

  12. Re:Once Again... by arth1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bottled water. You can't explain that!

    Sure we can. Have you ever read the label on a bottle of EVIAN water backwards?

  13. Re:Here you go. by PCM2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's pretty much how I read it, too. They're saying it's equivalent to saying something like, "Staying still will reduce the risk of changing position." What are the precise risk factors that could cause you to change position? "Movement."

    --
    Breakfast served all day!