PUR Flavor Options proposes a solution to the juice vs. water battle waged on playgrounds and in family kitchens on a daily basis. In an attempt to get an edge in the faucet-filter market, PUR filters now offers an option that allows parents to add zesty juice flavoring to their kids boring filtered water.
How can one be certain that this product is geared at kids? In Rob Walker’s ‘Consumed’ column for the Sunday Times, Bruce Lux, Brand Manager for PUR, says as much. “Kids like flavor in whatever beverage they’re consuming,” says Lux. A statement which Walker correctly quips, “is not news to parents.”
PUR has been offering a great product in their conventional tap filters, and has even championed an initiative that ensures safe drinking water for impoverished children. But more recently, PUR and parent company Procter & Gamble, have enlisted a collection of moms to offer favorable lip service for the PUR Flavor Options product. On the P&G Vocalpoint website, one such mom expects readers to nod favorably when she states, “My son asked for the flavored water more than juice.”
Though the PUR Flavor Options cartridges offer up to 75 servings of sugar-free, calorie-free and dye-free refreshment, Walker finds the notion of adding sucralose sweeteners and ‘fruit flavoring’ to filtered water a bit ludicrous, and compares it to the bad old days of Mr. Kool-Aid kicking his way into family kitchens.
I agree, and would go a step further, imagining PUR’s next product: a carbonation attachment for your Flavor Options filter. That’s right, soda pop flowing right from your tap – oh, wait, someone already thought of that. I say stick with water. And if you want to add a fun element, consider this LED attachment that can also tell your kid when the water is too hot.
I think the PUR flavors are somewhat of a joke. I agree that plain water is fine, mainly because as of yet, I haven’t found a recyclable water filter so the more add ons we have for these things, the more waste we create. A lot of water is safe to drink, not all sure, but you can check with your county to be sure, and if it is safe, all filters do is create nice landfill filler with few benefits.
I just don’t understand why we (as a society) feel the need to flavor everything kid’s drink? My kids love plain water. We worked on getting them to like it as much as they do, but there really is no need for this product. Kids do not need flavored beverages!
I wouldn’t recommend PUR water systems. Brita recycles their filters, PUR does not, and the fact that they are owned by Proctor and Gamble is a red flag of caution. This flavoring of water is another stupid idea that is not healthy for humans either. Whatever happened to just drinking clean, filtered water? Plus, look at the petrochemicals in that stuff: Propylene Glycol? Plus not to mention GMO ingredients like citric acid and all the preservatives.
I actually own a Pur water filtration pitcher that lets you add the flavor to the water as you pour with only the push of a button. I have just graduated from grad school, not a kid, hate soda, but hate plain water even more. Since I purhased Pur, I have been drinking the requisite glasses of water every day. And people seem to be misguided by the fact that the flavor option is, well flavored. It contains no sugar, calories or carbs. It’s no more harmful than adding chlorine and fluoride to potable water whether tap or bottled. Sometimes we get too health conscious without doing the research. This flavored water is healthy, has no added sugar or impurities, and it’s still water! It tastes great and has me looking forward to drinking water over my daily iced lemon tea full of sugar and calories. It’s not just for kids. Amd if it were, it is still healthier that the Capri Suns and other artificially flavored “juices” and soft drinks we give our kids. Its calorie free and delicious to me and all my friends will tell you I averaged 2 bottles of water a week. The flavored water actually turned me on to drinking more plain water as well for some reason. Now a glass of water does not look like an enemy ready to ruin my dinner : )