Does bought bottled water ever go bad?

If water is stored in a cool, dark and dry place, it can still be drunk many months after the best-before date has expired. After that the taste may suffer, but it will never harm your health. — Photo: Tobias Hase/dpa

Have you ever wondered why water bottles often have an expiration date – whether it's still or sparkling water? Does that mean bottled water can actually go bad?

"No," says Hannah Zeyssig, a consumer protection advocate in Germany specialising in sustainable food production. If you see this label, then it's likely because it's legally required in your country by laws mandating a best-before date.