The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has found that around a quarter of purified drinking water in the country is contaminated with excessive levels of bacteria.
The Shanghai Daily newspaper reported that bacteria was found even in purified water products from the country's biggest drinks makers including Wahaha Group, C'estbon Beverage and Danone's Robust brand.
Around 2,088 batches of purified drinking water were tested by CFDA, of which 23% were found to be non-compliant with the food safety standards.
Wahaha was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying that it had recalled the affected products and ended its supply relationship with the water station where it said the contamination had occurred.
Consumers in China either boil water for drinking or depend on bottled or barelled water due to high levels of pollution in waterways.
The drinking water contamination is the latest in the series of food health scares that occurred in the country which include dairy milk contamination with the industrial chemical melamine that killed six infants.
Image: Around 2,088 batches of purified drinking water were tested by CFDA.