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Expiration dates for products that don't spoil can seem odd. While most people can easily understand why meat or dairy needs a sell-by date, there are items that need a bit more explanation. For instance, child car seats have a set expiration because of changing safety regulations and the potential for wear and tear over years of use.
But a date on bottled water seems almost nonsensical. Shouldn't water, in theory, last indefinitely?
The reason lies in a 1987 New Jersey state law, which mandated that all food items sold there display an expiration date within two years of manufacture. To streamline the process, bottled water companies began marking all bottles with a two-year date, even if the water was headed elsewhere, rather than go through the hassle of separate labeling and shipping for New Jersey-bound water.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not set any rules or recommendations regarding the shelf life of bottled water, as long as it is produced according to regulations and the bottle stays sealed. New Jersey recognized this and updated the law, but since expiration dates became an industry standard long ago, many producers continue to include them.
While unopened bottled water that’s past its expiration date won't harm you, it’s not likely to improve with time either. The plastic used for packaging—typically polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for retail bottles and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for water cooler containers—can begin leaching into the water, altering its taste. The plastic is also somewhat porous, so the water might absorb odors and other contaminants from the surrounding environment. A five-year-old bottle of Evian won’t cause any harm, but if it’s been stored in a damp basement, you might want to opt for a fresher bottle.
