Why does mineral water have an expiration date? Have you ever wondered this?

Did you know that mineral water also has an expiration date?

As everyone knows, all products we buy to consume – whether for food or any other product such as hygiene or cleaning products, for example – have an expiration date.

What many people may not know – or have never even paid attention to – is that, just like all products that may be for sale and that are for our consumption, mineral water also has an expiration date.

But after all, why does mineral water have an expiration date, when this type of product doesn't go bad or anything like that?

That's what we're going to talk about in this content! 

In the following text, you will understand the reason for the expiration date on mineral water and how this can affect our health.

What is mineral water?

Before we get into the subject of the validity of mineral water, it is important to understand a little more about the properties of this water.

Mineral water is water that comes from natural sources.

In order to be categorized as mineral water, the water must be taken from a source where it is free from any type of contamination that could compromise the purity of the water.

In the vast majority of cases, this mineral water is extracted from giant aquifers – underground geological formations that are capable of storing water. 

This extraction can be carried out in a number of ways.

When it returns to the surface coming directly from these aquifers – through natural sources – or through wells that are drilled exclusively to extract water.

But if this water is extracted from a place where it has been located for many years, the mineral water has no validity, right? 

In fact, it is not quite like that. And in the next topics you will learn more about the concept of validity in mineral water.

Understand the expiration date of water

When we talk about buying mineral water in supermarkets – whether small bottles or larger gallons – what do you usually pay attention to? 

Many will say they look at the brand. Others may say they take the price into consideration.

But what many people may not take into consideration when making their purchase is the water's shelf life.

You may have noticed that all water packaging has an expiration date.

Although it appears on all mineral water bottles – generally printed directly on the packaging, on the top of the bottle – many people end up thinking that this is just a matter of formality.

But what these people don't know is that factors such as storage, temperature and the choice of packaging are factors that greatly influence the validity of mineral water,

However, for people who are not yet aware of these issues, the date itself cannot end up not being taken as seriously as it should.

But after all: why does mineral water have an expiration date? That's what we'll find out in the next topic.

Why is there this kind of deadline for water?

First of all, it is important to point out that mineral water itself does not have an expiration date.

After all, as this mineral water is stored for long periods before being extracted by the responsible companies, the liquid itself does not have an expiration date.

But this changes from the moment it is extracted so that it can be consumed by us.

Even though it has been located in the same place for millions of years, this water is always safe and protected against the action of agents that could contaminate it.

But when the extraction procedure begins, the collected water begins to have an expiration date.

Before reaching establishments to be sold, mineral water goes through several processes.

Among them are the bottling, packaging and storage of this water.

And it is during this journey that mineral water ends up being subject to contamination through the thousands of microorganisms that exist in our environment.

This means that when stored for very long periods, bacteria and other types of microorganisms can enter and grow inside a bottle of mineral water.

And in addition to this factor, another point was important for expiration dates on mineral water to begin to be adopted.

This method was chosen to ensure that the components that make up the packaging do not dissolve over time and, consequently, mix with the mineral water.

It was with these points in mind that the use of an expiration date for mineral water began to be used.

What is the shelf life of mineral water?

According to ABINAM (Brazilian Association of Mineral Water Industries), the expiration dates for water work like this:

Still water in glass packaging: shelf life of 24 months.

Still water in PET packaging: shelf life of 12 months.

– Still water in polypropylene, a lower quality plastic packaging: shelf life of 6 months.

When it comes to sparkling water in glass packaging, the shelf life is 12 months.

– Sparkling water in PET packaging: shelf life of 6 months.

Did you see how packaging is important for the validity of water?

Conclusion

So, did you understand a little more about how the expiration date works and why this categorization is so important?

For many people, accessing this type of tip and worrying about this type of information may seem like an exaggeration, but it is important to keep in mind that it is not.

Just like any other type of product currently on the market, the expiration date on mineral water is important and helps protect our health against potential risks of contamination.

And now that you know more about this topic, just keep an eye on the expiration dates of each one when you buy water.

Your health will thank you!

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