Water is an element Bezeichnung für einen Reinstoff, der mithilfe chemischer Methoden nicht mehr in andere Stoffe zerlegt werden kann. Aufgrun... that is created for eternity. But when this natural product is bottled, it is no longer in its natural environment. Different bottles, canisters, cans or composite packaging – such as Tetra Pak, SIG and ELOPAK – can have an impact on drinks. Especially when it gets hot outside again, water bottles are a constant companion. But are there circumstances under which bottled water can go bad?
Every water bottle has a best before date
Every bottled mineral water bottle, regardless of whether it is made of glass or plastic, has a best-before date (BBD ). This is required by food law and applies to the contents of the unopened bottle. There are differences depending on the nature of the packaging. It sounds paradoxical at first, but the same water with an identical mineral composition, which a manufacturer bottles in different types of packaging, has a different shelf life. In the case of PET bottles (PET = polyethylene terephthalate), the water is normally declared to have a shelf life of twelve months after bottling. The best-before date printed on glass bottles is usually 24 months.
Storage conditions can have an influence
Mineral water that has been bottled in glass bottles and kept sealed in a cool and relatively dark place, such as a cellar, can be drunk long after the best-before date without any problems. Like other foods and drinks, it cannot go bad. In plastic mineral water bottles, mineral water will also keep for longer than the stated best before date under the same storage conditions. Nevertheless, caution is advised with plastics. If stored for a very long time, oxygen can penetrate and carbon dioxide can escape. This may result in a slight, albeit harmless, change in taste. However, after prolonged storage, some plastic bottles can release substances that cannot be tasted or seen, such as hormone-like compounds, into the water. In particular, if PET bottles are exposed to extreme heat and sunlight, contamination may occur during the shelf life.
A drunk water bottle harbors risks
Whether in the car, backpack or bag, at the desk or in the workshop, many people always have a water bottle with them. This is extremely positive from a nutritional point of view. Nevertheless, the liquid companion should be given a certain amount of attention, especially if it has already been drunk directly from the bottle once or several times. Bacteria from the saliva can stick to the edge of the bottle. If the bottle is left at higher temperatures for longer periods of time, for example in the car, pathogens have an easy time multiplying. There is also a risk of bacteria and viruses being transmitted if more than one person drinks directly from the bottle. It is advisable to drink an opened bottle of water within a few days, use a glass where possible and store the opened bottle in the refrigerator. It is therefore always worth having a cool bag for drinks in the car during the warmer months.
Caution during storage: Storing water bottles in the cellar or garage usually offers optimum conditions, such as cool temperatures and predominantly darkness. However, as PET bottles are more permeable than glass bottles, plastic bottles should never be stored near plant poisons, chemical fertilizers, paints, varnishes or petrol. If a mineral water tastes of plastic or other contaminants, it should no longer be drunk.
