Question: I bought some bottled water to have stored away in case of emergency. The “best before” date on the plastic bottles has now passed. Is it still safe?

Answer: From a safety perspective, you have nothing to worry about.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unopened commercially bottled water will keep safe indefinitely, as long as the bottles remain properly sealed and aren’t damaged. 

After long-term storage, the bottled water’s appearance, smell or taste may change somewhat, but the water will still be safe to consume, says the FDA.

And while bottled water manufacturers are permitted to put expiration dates on their labels, these dates are meant to be indicators of quality, not safety.