Microbial diversity and ecology of bottled water

This review article summarizes some studies that described alterations in microbial counts and diversity in bottled water products during postpackaging shelf life. It also discusses prevalent microbial groups recovered from bottled water samples in different parts of the world. Finally, it explores some of the advantages of contemporary microbial detection and characterization approaches, with a particular emphasis on implications for traceability and quality assurance in the food industry. Adequate understanding of the microbial ecology of bottled water can aid traceability for example, tracking the origin and quality of products throughout shelf life. Understanding the microbial diversity and factors that influence its changes through shelf life can meaningfully contribute to ensuring product integrity as well as consumer and public health safety.