Here’s the good news: unopened bottled water doesn’t really “go bad” in the way milk or leftovers do. Water itself doesn’t spoil—it’s just H2O. As long as the seal is intact, you’re technically safe to drink it years later. The FDA doesn’t even require an expiration date for bottled water, but many companies slap one on anyway (usually two years).
So why the date? It’s mostly about plastic, not the water. Over time, the bottle’s material can start to break down, and you might get a faint “plastic-y” taste. Gross? A little. Dangerous? Probably not.
