Why Does Bottled Water Have an Expiration Date?
Why does bottled water have an expiration date? Water is a consumable food product, and as such, it is subject to laws requiring expiration dates on all consumables, from bologna to lemonade. Besides that, the expiration date on bottled water has certain benefits for the manufacturer. Learn why bottled water has an expiration date.
Can Bottled Water Expire?
It’s not the water itself that can go bad, but rather the packaging. The plastic bottle which water is contained in does "expire", and will eventually start leaching chemicals into the water. This won't necessarily render the water toxic, but it might make it taste somewhat less than "mountain spring fresh".
Furthermore, many companies bottled water use the same machines to bottle sodas and other beverages which do expire and should carry an expiration date. It's easier and more efficient to simply put a stamp on all the bottles (whether needed or not) rather than dedicating a special machine just for bottled water.
What Is the Shelf Life of Bottled Water?
Companies aren’t required to print expiration dates on bottled water, but typically they have a shelf life of two years. Expiration dates are usually only one element of a printed code that also identifies the date, bottling plant, and other information. Even though the expiration date itself is meaningless in terms of water going bad, the manufacturing information could be useful in tracking down contamination, bottling errors or product recalls.
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Water
Unlike bottled water, reverse osmosis water doesn’t go bad. It has no expiration date as the water is filtered from your water supply and stored in a localized tank. You control when the filters are changed in order to keep your water crystal clean, clear and fresh. And if you’re a homeowner with a well, having drinkable water from the tap can save you from buying tons of bottled water. The cost is only a fraction of a yearly bottle water user.
Contact Premier H20 to learn more about the reverse osmosis water filtration systems and how they can actually save your household money.
