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Acetaldehyde:
"Sweet" or "Fruity" Possible
source of "off" taste complaints
If customers are complaining of a "sweet" or "fruity" taste,
acetaldehyde leaching from PET containers may be the culprit.
Acetaldehyde (AA) is a naturally occurring byproduct of processing
polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The leaching capability of the
acetaldehyde increases in aged PET, especially in the presence of
ozone. Higher temperatures can also accelerate this leaching process.
Acetaldehyde is not the only source for off tasting water. Taste
complaints can also be a result of customers receiving water that was
bottled very recently in which the ozone has not completely
dissipated. Improper storage of water (i.e. near chemicals) is another
common mistake made by customers and/or distributors.
If a customer calls to complain of an off taste from your product we
recommend asking these questions:
-
When was the bottle
opened?
-
Was the "off" taste
immediately apparent upon opening or did it develop gradually?
-
Do they still have
the bottle in question? If so, will they give it to you?
-
What is the brand
name, container size, and production code of the water in question?
-
How would they
describe the taste? (sweet, fruity, stale, plastic, chemical, etc).
-
Is there any "off"
odor or color to the water?
-
When did they
purchase the water?
-
How/where has the
water been stored?
-
Did the taste
dissipate over time?
The answers to these
questions may be valuable clues to help diagnose the problem.
If you believe that the complaint could be the result of a quality
control issue and you would like the sample to be tested, it is
important that you notify your laboratory immediately. Some chemicals
volatilize over time and may be undetectable if the sample is not
transferred to proper containers soon enough.
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