Misleading Aqua ad

With regards to the letter written by Ingrid from Bogor in Kompas on July 2, 2001 about the misleading Aqua advertisement, I would like to point out that there is another statement in the ad that can lead consumers astray.

According to the advert, ozone, which is used to disinfect the drinking water, will break down into harmless oxygen.

Ozone, however, is also a very strong oxidizing agent and therefore can oxidize drugs taken with the water.

For example, the water can destroy the efficacy of vitamin C. Or ferrous sulfate, a component in the drug to alleviate anemia, can be oxidized into an inefficacious ferric sulfate, which can irritate the internal cavity.

Therefore Aqua should give complete and accurate information about its product to consumers. I suggest Aqua conduct research to ascertain which drugs risk being oxidized by the ozone in the drinking water.

SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO

Jakarta