Do Water Bottles Go Bad?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates the bottled water industry, does not require a shelf life for bottled water. Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly, but we recommend no more than two years for non-carbonated water, and one year for sparkling water.

Is it safe to drink bottled water after expiration date?

After long-term storage, the bottled water's appearance, smell or taste may change somewhat, but the water will still be safe to consume, says the FDA. And while bottled water manufacturers are permitted to put expiration dates on their labels, these dates are meant to be indicators of quality, not safety.

What happens if you drink old bottled water?

Still, it's generally not a good idea to drink water from plastic bottles that's way beyond its expiration date. This is because plastic can begin to leach into the water over time, contaminating it with chemicals, such as antimony and bisphenol A (BPA) ( 5 , 6 , 7 ).