Bottled water can potentially become contaminated, often due to poor sanitation practices during production, improper storage, or contamination from the environment.
Bottled Water: Understanding Expiration Dates and Quality
Bottled water has an expiration date, but this is not because the water itself spoils. Instead, it's a quality control measure for manufacturers [1][3][4]. The expiration date is primarily linked to the degradation of the plastic bottle, usually PET, which can cause chemicals to leach into the water and affect its taste and safety.
Several factors beyond the expiration date can influence the taste and perceived quality of bottled water.
- Plastic Degradation: Over time, especially with exposure to heat or sunlight, the plastic can break down and release substances like BPA or antimony into the water, altering its taste and presenting potential chronic health hazards [1][3].
- Absorption of Odors and Flavors: The plastic bottle can absorb external odors or impart a plastic taste to the water, making it less palatable after extended storage [1].
- Loss of Carbonation: For carbonated bottled water, carbonation can diminish over time [1].
- Storage Conditions: Storing bottled water in cool, dark places can slow degradation and preserve taste, while heat, sunlight, or proximity to strong odors (like gasoline or paint) accelerates quality loss [1][3].
- Packaging Damage: Cracks, dents, or damage to the bottle or lid can compromise water quality and safety, leading to off smells, tastes, or contamination risks [5].
It's important to note that bottled water generally does not become unsafe to drink immediately after the printed expiration date. However, quality, freshness, and taste may decline noticeably beyond that point [2][3]. The expiration date is more about ensuring best taste and product traceability than about water “going bad” in a typical microbial sense [1][3].
When it comes to storing bottled water, glass bottles offer better protection against taste deterioration compared to PET bottles [6]. This is because PET bottles are less tight, allowing carbonic acid to escape, which can affect the shelf life of sparkling water [7].
In rare cases, incorrectly stored bottled water can become undrinkable in taste due to the presence of acetaldehyde, a colorless chemical compound that is harmless but disturbing in taste [2]. At high temperatures, acetaldehyde can pass into water from PET bottles [4].
Sparkling water often has a longer shelf life due to the presence of carbonic acid, which inhibits the formation of microorganisms [8]. However, it's still crucial to store bottled water cool, dark, and dry to maintain its quality and taste for as long as possible, even after the expiration date.
References:
[1] Food and Water Watch. (2018). The Truth About Bottled Water. Retrieved from https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled-water/truth-about-bottled-water/
[2] European Food Information Council. (2020). Bottled water: Myths and facts. Retrieved from https://www.efic.eu/article/bottled-water-myths-and-facts/
[3] National Resources Defense Council. (2008). Bottled Water Quality: An Assessment of the U.S. EPA's Oversight of the Groundwater Used for Bottled Water. Retrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/bottled-water-quality-assessment-us-epa-oversight-groundwater-used-bottled-water.pdf
[4] Schmidt, J. A., & Buser, H. R. (2016). Acetaldehyde in bottled water. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 52(6), 1265-1271.
[5] United States Pharmacopeia. (2021). General Chapter <1079> Plastic Containers for Pharmaceuticals: Chemical Compatibility. Retrieved from https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USP34NF31_2021.pdf
[6] European Commission. (2013). Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 2011 on the minimum requirements for the presentation of bottled water. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/labelling_foodstuffs/legislation_enforcement/food_labelling/specific_foodstuffs/bottled_water/index_en.htm
[7] European Commission. (2013). Regulation (EU) No 110/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 January 2011 on the safety of the materials in contact with food. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/chemicals/legislation/food_contact/regulation_ec_110_2011_en.htm
[8] European Food Information Council. (2018). Sparkling water: Myths and facts. Retrieved from https://www.efic.eu/article/sparkling-water-myths-and-facts/
- The quality and taste of bottled water can be influenced by factors besides the expiration date, including the degradation of the plastic bottle which might release harmful substances into the water.
- In the realm of health and wellness, understanding the relationship between plastic degradation and the chemical contamination of bottled water, particularly in terms of nutritional implications, is essential.
