Is Icelandic Glacial Bottled Water Safe? PFAS + Contaminant Testing Results (2026)
Icelandic Water Holdings brand. Tested clean for PFAS in 2020 Consumer Reports panel.
Quick answer
Icelandic Glacial is glacier water from Icelandic Water Holdings, bottled at Ölfus Spring, Iceland. PFAS testing status: PFAS not detected (Consumer Reports 2020). KnowYourExposure rates it B - Tested clean for PFAS in 2020 Consumer Reports panel. No bottled water is a reliable long-term PFAS fix: a certified reverse-osmosis or NSF 53 filter removes PFAS from any tap or bottled source for a fraction of the cost.
How we rate: we report published third-party testing, primarily Consumer Reports' 2020 bottled water PFAS investigation, plus brand-published water quality reports. We do not test products ourselves, and where no independent PFAS testing exists we say so rather than estimate.
Quick facts
- Trust rating
- B (Tested clean for PFAS in 2020 Consumer Reports panel)
- PFAS testing
- PFAS not detected (Consumer Reports 2020)
- Water type
- glacier
- Bottled at
- Ölfus Spring, Iceland
- Parent company
- Icelandic Water Holdings
What we know about PFAS in Icelandic Glacial
Consumer Reports 2020 testing did not detect PFAS in Icelandic Glacial above its reporting limit. The Ölfus Spring source in Iceland is fed by 5,000-year-old glacial melt that filters through volcanic rock - a natural filtration system that historically produces very low contaminant water. The brand publishes some water quality data but not as comprehensive as Mountain Valley.
Packaging and microplastics
PET plastic for most SKUs. Microplastic risk applies. Long shipping distance from Iceland.
Known issues, recalls & lawsuits
- Long shipping distance from Iceland increases carbon footprint
- PET plastic packaging for most SKUs
- Premium pricing relative to other tested-clean spring brands
Safer alternatives to Icelandic Glacial
- Mountain Valley Spring Water (Arkansas) tests similarly clean and ships shorter
- Evian also tested clean in Consumer Reports 2020 panel
- For glass packaging: Saratoga or San Pellegrino
- Reverse osmosis at home eliminates packaging concerns entirely
Brands to compare: Mountain Valley Spring Water (rated A), Evian (rated B).
Frequently asked questions
- Does Icelandic Glacial contain PFAS?
- Consumer Reports 2020 testing did not detect PFAS in Icelandic Glacial above its reporting limit. The Ölfus Spring source in Iceland is fed by 5,000-year-old glacial melt that filters through volcanic rock - a natural filtration system that historically produces very low contaminant water. The brand publishes some water quality data but not as comprehensive as Mountain Valley.
- Where is Icelandic Glacial bottled?
- Icelandic Glacial is bottled at Ölfus Spring, Iceland. The parent company is Icelandic Water Holdings.
- Is Icelandic Glacial safer than tap water?
- Not necessarily. Icelandic Glacial comes from a specific source, but most US tap water is held to similar EPA monitoring requirements. A certified home filter removes the same contaminants without the plastic packaging.
- What's the safest alternative to Icelandic Glacial?
- Mountain Valley Spring Water consistently tests clean for PFAS and is bottled in glass. For everyday use, a Clearly Filtered or AquaTru reverse osmosis system removes 99% of PFAS from any tap source for a fraction of the cost.
- Has Icelandic Glacial been recalled?
- Yes – known issues include: Long shipping distance from Iceland increases carbon footprint; PET plastic packaging for most SKUs.