Sodium bicarbonate is found in bottled water, but the claim that it causes severe side effects is exaggerated and misleading. The chemical compound Is a commonly found salt, baking soda. The presence of sodium bicarbonate in water is used to neutralize acid in the solution, making it more alkaline. For this reason, the consumption of the chemical compound helps with indigestion, because it balances out an influx of acid in the stomach. The FDA has approved the appropriate dosage of sodium bicarbonate to be used in food and drink. The WHO has tested that the distinct taste of sodium bicarbonate doesn't become apparent until around a concentration of 420 mg/liter. While the severe health effects of sodium bicarbonate can appear, this is only through an overconsumption of the compound. I could not find an exact measurement about the amount of sodium bicarbonate found in Great Value Brand water bottles; however, a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine found that a maximum dosage of 150mg of sodium bicarbonate is the safe amount used in the Water Chemical Codex. GoodRx concluded that any adult under the age of 60 could take a maximum dosage of 48 325 mg sodium bicarbonate tablets, dissolved in water, before severe health effects take place. This concentration far exceeds that find in any Walmart purified water bottle.
