Is Topo Chico Bottled Water Safe? PFAS + Contaminant Testing Results (2026)
The Coca-Cola Company brand. Highest PFAS of any bottled water in Consumer Reports 2020 testing; cut by ~60% after a 2021 filtration upgrade.
Quick answer
Topo Chico is sparkling water from The Coca-Cola Company, bottled at Cerro del Topo Chico spring, Monterrey, Mexico. PFAS testing status: PFAS detected - 9.76 ppt in 2020 (highest tested), 3.9 ppt on 2021 retest (Consumer Reports). KnowYourExposure rates it D - Highest PFAS of any bottled water in Consumer Reports 2020 testing; cut by ~60% after a 2021 filtration upgrade. 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
- D (Highest PFAS of any bottled water in Consumer Reports 2020 testing; cut by ~60% after a 2021 filtration upgrade)
- PFAS testing
- PFAS detected - 9.76 ppt in 2020 (highest tested), 3.9 ppt on 2021 retest (Consumer Reports)
- Water type
- sparkling
- Bottled at
- Cerro del Topo Chico spring, Monterrey, Mexico
- Parent company
- The Coca-Cola Company
What we know about PFAS in Topo Chico
Consumer Reports 2020 testing measured 9.76 ppt total PFAS in Topo Chico - the highest of all 47 bottled waters and all 12 sparkling waters it tested, and nearly double the bottled water industry's voluntary 5 ppt limit. After the results, Coca-Cola said it upgraded its filtration system; a Consumer Reports 2021 retest averaged 3.9 ppt across three new samples, roughly a 60% reduction. That 3.9 ppt still exceeds the 1 ppt level some scientists recommend and is near the EPA's new 4 ppt single-compound MCL for PFOA and PFOS. Topo Chico is naturally carbonated mineral water sourced in Monterrey, Mexico.
Packaging and microplastics
Sold mostly in glass bottles (good for avoiding microplastics and plasticizer leaching) plus aluminum cans. Glass is the cleanest packaging choice; the PFAS concern here is in the water itself, not the packaging.
Known issues, recalls & lawsuits
- Consumer Reports 2020: highest total PFAS (9.76 ppt) of any bottled water tested
- Consumer Reports 2021 retest still measured 3.9 ppt - improved but above the 1 ppt some scientists recommend
- Imported from Mexico; PFAS levels depend on Coca-Cola's filtration rather than a naturally clean source
Safer alternatives to Topo Chico
- For PFAS-tested sparkling, Mountain Valley sparkling and San Pellegrino publish clean water quality data
- A SodaStream plus reverse-osmosis or NSF 53-filtered tap water eliminates the PFAS concern for about $0.15 per glass
- Perrier and San Pellegrino source from single protected springs with published testing
- If you filter your own tap with certified RO, you control the PFAS level yourself
Brands to compare: San Pellegrino (rated B), Perrier (rated B).
Frequently asked questions
- Does Topo Chico contain PFAS?
- Consumer Reports 2020 testing measured 9.76 ppt total PFAS in Topo Chico - the highest of all 47 bottled waters and all 12 sparkling waters it tested, and nearly double the bottled water industry's voluntary 5 ppt limit. After the results, Coca-Cola said it upgraded its filtration system; a Consumer Reports 2021 retest averaged 3.9 ppt across three new samples, roughly a 60% reduction. That 3.9 ppt still exceeds the 1 ppt level some scientists recommend and is near the EPA's new 4 ppt single-compound MCL for PFOA and PFOS. Topo Chico is naturally carbonated mineral water sourced in Monterrey, Mexico.
- Where is Topo Chico bottled?
- Topo Chico is bottled at Cerro del Topo Chico spring, Monterrey, Mexico. The parent company is The Coca-Cola Company.
- Is Topo Chico safer than tap water?
- Not necessarily. Topo Chico 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 Topo Chico?
- 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 Topo Chico been recalled?
- Yes – known issues include: Consumer Reports 2020: highest total PFAS (9.76 ppt) of any bottled water tested; Consumer Reports 2021 retest still measured 3.9 ppt - improved but above the 1 ppt some scientists recommend.