List Of Sparkling Water With PFAS | Brands To Skip

You’re here for one thing: a clear list for the store aisle. This post sticks to published lab screens and keeps wording careful, since PFAS findings can change by batch and test method.

Two quick notes. PFAS is a big chemical family, and labs don’t test every compound in each run. Bottled sparkling water sits outside most tap-water rules, so compare brands by asking: “What did a credible test find, and when?”

List Of Sparkling Water With PFAS By Published Lab Tests

The table below pulls the most-cited brand findings from a Consumer Reports bottled-water screen published in 2020, as summarized by multiple mainstream outlets. Values are shown as parts per trillion (ppt) for “total PFAS” reported in that screen.

Brand Or Product	PFAS Reported In 2020 Screen (ppt)	Notes For Shoppers
Topo Chico Natural Mineral Water	9.76	Highest reading in the 2020 screen; Coca-Cola later said it changed treatment and testing.
Polar Natural Seltzer Water	6.41	Second-highest reading in the same screen; check for updated lab info on newer packaging.
Bubly Blackberry Sparkling Water	2.24	Flavored product in the screen; flavor systems and processing can shift results between runs.
Poland Spring Zesty Lime Sparkling Water	1.66	Just over 1 ppt in the screen; “sparkling” and “still” versions are not the same product.
Canada Dry Lemon Lime Sparkling Seltzer Water	1.24	Just over 1 ppt in the screen; treat as a signal to check for newer testing.
La Croix Natural Sparkling Water	1.16	Just over 1 ppt in the screen; different plants and flavors can mean different outcomes.
Perrier Natural Sparkling Mineral Water	1.10	Just over 1 ppt in the screen; mineral waters can vary by source and bottling site.

What PFAS Is And Why It Shows Up In Sparkling Water

PFAS is short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They’re used in many industrial and consumer settings, and some compounds stay in the body for a long time. Public-health agencies link certain PFAS to a range of health concerns, which is why even tiny readings can raise eyebrows.

So why do carbonated waters show up so often in headlines? Sparkling products can run through extra steps: mineral contact, carbonation systems, and flavor dosing. Each step is another chance for trace contamination from source water, equipment, or packaging materials.

If you want a plain-language starting point on what PFAS is, the EPA PFAS explained page gives the basics and links out to EPA’s current benchmarks.

How To Read PFAS Numbers Without Getting Lost

Sparkling Water PFAS List By Brand And Level

To use the data fast, group brands by the 2020 screen: high readings, just-over-1 ppt readings, and under-1 ppt or non-detect. That stops you from treating 9.76 and 1.10 the same.

PFAS results are often shown in parts per trillion. That’s a “drop in an Olympic pool” scale, which can feel unreal until you remember two things: (1) some PFAS compounds can matter at low levels, and (2) rules differ by chemical and by water type.

Many headlines mention “4 ppt” because the U.S. EPA set 4 ppt as the maximum contaminant level for PFOA and PFOS in public drinking-water systems under its 2024 rule. Bottled water is regulated under a different system, so you can’t map those numbers one-to-one.

When you see a single “total PFAS” number, treat it as a screening signal, not a full profile. A brand can score low on a total screen yet still contain a single PFAS compound that a different method would catch. The reverse can also happen.

Brands Often Listed With Lower PFAS In The Same 2020 Screen

The same 2020 screen also reported several sparkling waters under 1 ppt and at least one at non-detect for the panel used. These names come up often when people want a swap that still tastes like “store-bought bubbles.”

• Spindrift (0.19 ppt in the screen)
• Dasani (0.37 ppt in the screen)
• San Pellegrino (0.31 ppt in the screen)
• Schweppes (0.58 ppt in the screen)
• Sparkling Ice (non-detect in the screen)

Use that list as a starting point, not a lifetime guarantee. Bottling plants change, water sources shift, and testing panels differ. If a brand posts a current water quality report, that’s the best “right now” clue you’ll get without paying for your own lab work.

Why A “PFAS List” Can Change From Year To Year

People want a permanent blacklist. Real-world testing doesn’t work that way. A lab screen captures a single moment: one product, one lot, one method, one date.

Here are the main reasons the list can change:

• Source-water changes: drought, new wells, or a supplier swap can shift what’s in the water before treatment.
• Treatment changes: carbon, reverse osmosis, resin, and blend strategies can cut PFAS, but brands don’t all use the same setup.
• Packaging and processing: seals, liners, and process aids vary across plants and over time.
• Test method and panel: labs can measure specific PFAS compounds or a total screen; these can tell different stories.

Topo Chico is the poster child for this. After the 2020 headlines, Consumer Reports published a follow-up in 2021 saying newer Topo Chico samples showed a drop in the PFAS reading. You can read that follow-up at Topo Chico Cuts PFAS Levels by More Than Half.

How To Shop For Sparkling Water When PFAS Is On Your Radar

You don’t need a chemistry degree in the soda aisle. You need a few fast checks that stack the odds in your favor.

Start With The Plain Version First

If you’re comparing brands, begin with unflavored sparkling water. Once you have a brand that tastes good and has decent public testing, then try flavors. Flavored waters add more processing steps, which can add uncertainty.

Look For A Current Water Quality Report

Some brands post a water quality report or annual analysis. When a company shares a report, scan for: the lab name, sample date, and whether PFAS is listed as a tested item. A report that only lists minerals and microbes won’t answer the PFAS question.

Pay Attention To Where It’s Bottled

Two cans can share a brand name and still come from different plants. If the label shows a plant code or bottling location, jot it down when you find a product you like. That detail helps you track consistency across purchases.

Ways To Cut PFAS In What You Drink At Home

If you want more control, make your own sparkling water with treated tap water. The soda maker does the bubbles; your home treatment does the heavy lifting.

Home treatment options that are often used for PFAS reduction include reverse osmosis and certain activated carbon systems. Look for third-party certification claims that name PFAS reduction, not just “taste and odor.” Follow the cartridge schedule, since spent media can lose performance.

If you rent and can’t install gear, a countertop reverse-osmosis unit or a certified pitcher system can still help. The details depend on your tap-water source and the specific PFAS present, so a local water report is a handy starting point.

Shopping Checklist You Can Screenshot

This checklist is built for shopping. Keep it on your phone and you’ll spend less time guessing.

Check	What To Look For	What It Tells You
Published third-party test	Lab screen from a known outlet, with date	Anchors your choice to a real sample, not marketing copy
Product match	Same brand, same product type, same flavor	Stops “still vs sparkling” mix-ups and keeps comparisons fair
Bottling code	Plant code or location on can or box	Helps you track consistency across different stores
Water quality report	Sample date and a lab name on the report	Shows whether the brand shares current testing details
Home-made option	Soda maker plus treated tap water	Gives you more control over your water source
Can and lid notes	Plain aluminum can, minimal coatings listed	Packaging can be one more source of trace contamination
Treatment claim	Certification that names PFAS reduction	Keeps you from buying a filter that isn’t built for PFAS

Notes On Taste, Minerals, And What You Give Up

Some people stick with mineral waters for the bite and saltiness. If you move away from brands on the list, you may notice a softer taste, since many “cleaner” picks in the 2020 screen were flavored seltzers or purified-water seltzers.

If you make bubbles at home, mineral drops can bring back that mineral snap. Keep it simple: start with treated water, carbonate, then add minerals only if you miss the bite.

Practical Takeaways To Use Today

If your goal is to avoid the biggest red flags from published screens, start with the brands in the first table, then pick an alternative from the lower-reading list and stick with one product type while you compare.

If you want the most control per dollar, treat your tap water with a system that lists PFAS reduction and carbonate at home. That route also cuts the “batch mystery” that comes with bottled products.

And if you only want a fast note to remember, it’s this: the list of sparkling water with pfas is a snapshot from a dated screen, so re-check for newer testing when you restock.

One last time for clarity: the list of sparkling water with pfas in this post is based on a widely cited 2020 screen and should be used as a shopping pointer, not a diagnosis or a promise.