Bel Aqua apologises over 500ml bottle filling issue

BlowChem Industries has apologised to customers following complaints about overfilled 500 ml Bel Aqua Mineral Water bottles, saying the production issue has been resolved after engineering work to recalibrate its filling line. The company says the issue was limited to one bottle size and did not affect its other products.

ACCRA, Ghana — BlowChem Industries, the producer of Bel Aqua Mineral Water, has apologised to consumers following complaints about overfilled 500ml bottles, saying the production issue has now been fully resolved after engineering work to recalibrate its filling line.

The company issued a public statement acknowledging reports and customer feedback regarding the filling levels of some 500ml Bel Aqua bottles. It accepted responsibility for the issue, apologised for the inconvenience caused and said resolving the problem required technical adjustments to its production line that took longer than anticipated. The statement follows complaints shared by consumers regarding inconsistencies in the filling levels of certain 500ml bottles. In response, BlowChem publicly acknowledged the issue and outlined the corrective measures it says have since been completed.

According to the company, the matter was a production calibration issue affecting bottle fill levels rather than the quality of the drinking water itself. BlowChem said there was no indication that the safety of the bottled water had been compromised and stated that newly produced batches now meet its normal filling specifications.

The company says only 500ml bottles were affected

BlowChem said the calibration problem was isolated to its 500ml Bel Aqua bottles. The company stated that its 750ml, one-litre, 1.5-litre and four-litre products were not affected and continued to meet its quality standards throughout the period. It added that the newly introduced slimmer 500ml bottle is now being filled to the correct specification following the recalibration work.

Consumer confidence and quality assurance

Product quality concerns can quickly affect consumer confidence, particularly for well-established household brands. In its statement, BlowChem said Bel Aqua has been built on the trust and loyalty of Ghanaian consumers and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards of product quality and customer satisfaction. The company said it welcomed continued consumer feedback as part of its quality assurance processes.

Regulatory context

In Ghana, bottled drinking water manufacturers operate under regulatory requirements overseen by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), while product standards are developed in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA). BlowChem’s statement does not indicate that the FDA issued any enforcement action relating to the matter. Instead, the company described the issue as an internal production calibration problem that has since been corrected.

Earlier technical notice

This is not the first time BlowChem has publicly informed consumers about a technical issue involving its 500ml Bel Aqua bottles.

In January 2022, the company issued a public notice explaining that some 500ml bottles could temporarily be sold without the usual plastic shrink sleeve around the cap because of maintenance work on its packaging machinery. At the time, BlowChem said tamper-evident safety seals remained intact, packs continued to be sold in sealed cartons and the FDA had been informed of the temporary packaging changes. The 2022 notice concerned packaging equipment and is separate from the current production calibration issue.

What Consumers Should Know

Which product was affected?

Only the 500ml Bel Aqua bottle, according to BlowChem.

Were other bottle sizes affected?

No. The company says all other bottle sizes continued to meet its quality standards.

Has the issue been fixed?

BlowChem says the production line has been recalibrated and the issue has been resolved.

Was the water declared unsafe?

The company’s statement does not indicate that the water itself was unsafe.

What happens now?

BlowChem says subsequent batches now meet its normal filling specifications and quality standards.

Why this matters

Consumer trust is one of the most valuable assets for food and beverage manufacturers.

Industry experts generally regard early public disclosure, transparent communication and prompt corrective action as important elements of maintaining confidence when production issues occur. By publicly acknowledging the complaints and explaining the corrective measures taken, BlowChem has sought to reassure customers while reinforcing its commitment to product quality.

Key Facts

BlowChem has apologised over complaints involving some 500ml Bel Aqua bottles.
The company says the issue resulted from a production line calibration problem.
BlowChem says the issue has now been fully resolved.
According to the company, only the 500ml bottle was affected.
Other Bel Aqua bottle sizes were not affected.
The company says there is no indication that the quality or safety of the bottled water itself was compromised.
BlowChem says it remains committed to maintaining high product quality standards.