A recent topic that was discussed on social media was a certain water filter that could produce “miracle water” and treat 150 chronic illnesses.
One can be forgiven if one is sceptical about this, but apparently, it has been endorsed by a research university and a singer. Forum Air Malaysia, as a consumer association, has received complaints regarding the “miracle water”.
Consumers feel discomfort in their stomach after about a month of drinking the water.
There are also those who died because they stopped taking their medicine due to their trust in this “miracle water”. However, this may be doubtful because the cause of death was not the water.
Are the health claims from these water filter devices legitimate? No credible agency can confirm it, but at the same time, no one is denying these health claims either.
Yet, we have consumers paying up to RM20,000 for one unit of this water filter.
Attempts have been made to engage the authorities.
The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry will give the licence to sell such products as long as these health claims are not in their advertisements. The Health Ministry does not have regulations for this type of water filter.
This is like a blind spot for regulations, one that companies can exploit.
It is a water filter, but it is said to produce water that is as good as medicine, so, which agency should take the lead on this issue?
We have also engaged one of the agents to learn more about this “miracle water”.
Even if the health claims sound ridiculous, the agents seem convincing because they themselves are convinced that the product they sell is good. Can we really blame agents in this situation?
What we need now is verification of the health claims for these water filters.
We also need the authorities to take action if the health claims are given verbally, online or even in WhatsApp chat groups.
The situation does not give enough protection for consumers, so we urge the authorities to look into this issue
Nah Kok Wai, Research and Policy Executive,
Forum Air Malaysia.
Source : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/06/155424/does-miracle-water-claim-hold-water