Bad news, bottles

As Nestlé of Canada wrangled with environmentalists who say the company is attempting to mislead the public, the Toronto City Council banned bottled-water sales at all city facilities.

City officials made the decision just a few months after Nestlé ran an advertisement in the Globe and Mail claiming that bottled water, which it produces and sells, is “the most environmentally friendly responsible consumer product in the world.”

That statement is a violation of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, say detractors, including citizens group Council of Canadians, who have filed a complaint against the company.

Nestlé responded that the claim stemmed partially from the fact that it takes less water to produce water than soft drinks and food.