Why Does Bottled Water Have an Expiration Date?
Have you ever picked up a bottle of water and thought to yourself, "Why does water have an expiration date?" Read on to learn why. Does this Spark an idea?
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Does Water Actually Expire?
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The expiration date has more to do with the bottle the water is put in than it does with the actual water. All foods (and water is considered a food) are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). In 1987 the state of New Jersey started requiring all food and drugs manufactured in the state to have an expiration date on them. After bottled water companies in New Jersey started putting expiration dates on their bottles, the rest of the industry followed suit.
Does Water Expire?
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Water itself never expires. The bottles that water is put in are usually made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is a type of plastic that is slightly porous. The plastic protects the water from outside elements to a point, but because it is slightly porous, it allows things from the environment to pass through to the water. For example, if you have bottles of water stored in your dusty, musty basement, your water could have a dusty, musty taste. The water will be safe to drink but might not be as refreshing as if it had just been purchased.
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What's the Harm?
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Because the HDPE allows environmental elements to seep through to the water inside, it is important to store bottled water away from things like gasoline, paint or other chemicals.
The longer bottled water sits, the more likely it will be to absorb some of the chemicals in the HDPE itself, which is why many environmentalists suggest using reusable containers for your water as opposed to the type of plastic bottles the majority of bottling companies use for their water.
Going Green
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There are many reasons to consider using alternative bottles for water. Environmentally speaking, the bottles do not biodegrade in landfills and they keep on piling up. Because the HDPE bottles that are used for bottling water allow environmental elements to seep into the water, many people are beginning to avoid bottled water because of the risk that it might be contaminated.
Bottled Water Alternatives
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Water filtration systems, non-porous bottles and faucet water filtration systems have grown in popularity. Not only do they help the environment, they also help save money because they can be reused instead of having to buy bottles of water.
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