Recipe Station

The truth is the date on a bottle could mean a variety of things, but there's one bit of information everyone should know about.

See, the retail bottles are usually made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), while the cooler jugs are made with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). As time goes by, the plastic may begin leaching into the water, affecting its taste and smell. Additionally, the porous bottle can cause a buildup of odors and harmful elements to contaminate the water. While some reports argue that this isn't necessarily harmful to your health, others warn that there is a possibility of serious complications down the line.

If the water hasn't been exposed direct sunlight for long periods of time if it's been kept from pesticides or gasoline, or any other chemicals that could contaminate it then water can be consumed for a while after the date. It's highly unlikely that an “expired” water bottle will make anyone sick. So drink away but if ever in doubt…don't.