Does Bottled Water Go Bad After Opening?

Just because a product has an expiration date, it does not necessarily go bad.

Bottled water is a multi-million dollar business across the world. People who drink bottled water may have several cases stockpiled at a time, and they may be concerned about drinking water past its expiration date. The question is, should they be concerned?

Short Answer

The simple answer to the question of whether or not bottled water can go bad is "no." Bottled water does not go bad on its own. Over time, the water can taste musty and "old," or it may have a plastic taste due to chemicals in the plastic. However, it is not unsafe to drink.

Why Expiration Dates?

In 1987, the state of New Jersey passed a law which required that any food, including all beverages, have an expiration date stamped on them. The date had to be no more than two years from the date of manufacture. So even though there was no safety issue, bottled water manufacturers began stamping all water with expiration dates. It was too costly to differentiate those going to New Jersey from the rest.

Misconceptions

Although bottled water will pick up a plastic taste, it is not spoiled or unsafe. The materials used in water bottles is usually high density polyethylene, or HDPE. It is slightly porous, so over time, the taste of the bottle leeches into the water. The amounts, however, are safe. Polycarbonate bottles, such as camping water containers, can allow unsafe amounts of chemical into water over time, but those materials are not used in bottled water containers.

References

• Chow: Does Bottled Water Ever Go Bad?
• Brannon Sewer Service: Does Your Bottled Water Go Bad?
• High Beam: When Does Bottled Water Go Bad? Never, Really