Some 54% of water sold in bars and restaurants in Italy was found to be irregular in a nationwide sweep by the NAS health and hygiene police last month, it said Thursday.

From July 1 to 31, 2026, the NAS Carabinieri, in agreement with the Ministry of Health, conducted a nationwide inspection campaign to ensure the proper bottling and serving of treated water in bars and restaurants.

Some 272 inspections were conducted and 53 samples were collected for laboratory analysis.

The inspections revealed 147 non-compliant situations (54% of the inspections), with 126 individuals reported to the competent administrative and health authorities.

The investigations revealed a total of 256 violations.

During the investigation, a criminal offense was filed for selling food with false markings and 255 administrative fines were issued for irregularities in the instructions for the sale and administration of non-prepackaged products, for hygiene, structural, procedural, and authorization deficiencies, for a total value of approximately €175,000.

Two thousand litres of unfiltered drinking water and seven non-compliant pieces of equipment were seized.

Ten companies were suspended for hygiene, structural, and/or authorization deficiencies, with an estimated market value of approximately €4.7 million.