9 Better-For-You Sparkling Water Brands

By Mackenzie Filson | delish | July 28, 2023

Read the full article by Mackenzie Filson (delish)

"If you open most fridges belonging to Team Delish, you'll likely see a smorgasbord of canned sparkling waters (the dream). And while we all have our various brand loyalties, one thing is for sure: Not all sparkling waters are worth swimming in, if you catch our drift.

The reports of popular seltzer brands with high levels of PFAS chemicals have us more than a little concerned over our bubbly water habits. Called "forever chemicals" because they bioaccumulate in the environment and don't break down in the body once consumed, PFAS (which stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been linked to fertility and thyroid issues, cancer, and liver damage, and can be found in many common products, like waterproof clothing, non-stick cookware, food packaging, and even floss.

While the first distressing reports surfaced in 2021, it's been infuriatingly sloth-like crawl toward any sort of regulation of PFAS chemicals, whether it be in municipal water sources or the popular sparkling water brands previously reported to have high levels of the chemicals. It was only this past March that the EPA began requiring utility companies to filter out PFAS chemicals, but the limits are still not regulated in sparkling water brands."