Tunisia: Authorities warn against unsafe water sold by mobile trucks

Tunisian authorities are issuing a strong warning against the consumption of water sold by mobile trucks circulating in residential areas and along roads in the Nabeul governorate. The National Institute of Public Health, Food Safety and Environment (INSSPA) has reiterated its call for citizens to avoid these products, deeming them non-compliant with health safety standards and a potential risk to public health.

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These waters, whose origin remains unknown, escape all sanitary control and constitute a potential danger for consumers.

Mohammed Rabhi, president of INSSPA, highlighted the spread of this phenomenon across several regions in the country. He emphasized that the water's origin remains unknown, and it escapes all sanitary controls, posing a significant danger to consumers. Rabhi pointed out that the tanks and containers used for transporting and storing this water lack the required sanitary certifications. Crucially, they are not subjected to evaluations that would verify the absence of plastic substances migrating into the water.

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The tanks and containers used for transport and storage of this water do not have the required sanitary certifications.

Rabhi also cautioned that prolonged exposure of plastic tanks and containers to direct sunlight can promote the release of potentially toxic chemical compounds. Compounding these risks are inadequate disinfection practices and often haphazard transport conditions, which increase the likelihood of bacterial and microbial contamination. He stressed that the dangers extend beyond immediate poisoning, such as vomiting or diarrhea, warning that regular consumption could lead to a gradual accumulation of contaminants in the body, raising the risk of long-term illnesses.

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The regular consumption of this water could lead to a gradual accumulation of contaminants in the body and increase the risk of developing various diseases and long-term health complications.

While acknowledging that bottled mineral water undergoes regular controls and carries necessary sanitary certifications, Rabhi stressed the importance of proper storage and transport conditions for these sensitive products. He advised protecting them from humidity, heat, sunlight, and chemicals, as poor conservation can degrade plastic and cause component migration into the water. Researcher Hamza Fell from the Water Research and Technologies Center added that analyses of water sold as "spring water" by mobile trucks revealed most were actually desalinated and filtered water, often lacking essential minerals. He also noted the risks associated with transport and lack of disinfection, contributing to bacterial proliferation.

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Analyses carried out on samples of water sold as 'spring water' by mobile trucks revealed that most of these waters were actually desalinated and filtered.