Following health problems reported by Croatian citizens, expert examinations of mineral water samples from Austrian manufacturer Romerquelle in Rijeka have been published. The first reported case of health problems after consumption of the water was reported to Zagreb police on November 7.
The examination was carried out by the Center for Forensic Examinations and Expert Examinations „Ivan Vučetić” and was ordered by the Municipal State Attorney’s Office in Rijeka. The results showed that the liquid from the glass consumed by the person with health problems matched the liquid from the flavoured soft drink served to him. The analysis revealed that the liquid contained highly alkaline aqueous solutions (pH=13.6).
“On the basis of the established chemical composition, it can be concluded that it is a detergent and/or degreaser. In addition, 20 undisputed glass bottles of the same drink, received in their original packaging, were found to contain transparent liquids with a pH of 3.5, which corresponds to the pH values of these types of drinks,” read the report.
The water was withdrawn from sale in Croatia due to doubts about its safety.
