Page 28 - Regent Digest - Vol 8 Issue 33

MEDICAL CORNER
P A G E 2 8
BOTTLED WATER: HOW LONG DOES IT REALLY LAST?

Bottled water is past just being popular; it is now our way
of life. OPEN Vitamin Water last 3-5 days (if in a refrigerator).

Most people don’t trust regular water that comes out the OPEN Sparking Water lasts for 2-3 days (if in a
tap. Nowadays, the majority of people usually consume refrigerator)
water that is either filtered in some way, or bottled.
OPEN Coconut Water lasts for 24-48 hours (if in a
With bottled water, many of us buy it in packs or in bulk, refrigerator)
which raises questions about how long it should last. T
According the Medical Science, freezing bottled water for
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration consumption, is not recommended because of the chemicals
and Control, (NAFDAC), Nigeria, reports that bottled contained in the bottle. Freezing and boiling temperatures
water has an unclear shelf life, especially if it is produced break down the chemicals in plastic bottles, which can then
according to regulations and remains unopened. As a leak into the liquid.
result, you will possibly not find “sell by”, “best by” or
“use by” dates on the bottle. But can the water inside go How to tell if Bottled Water is bad?
bad? The answer is yes. Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most
reliable instruments to tell if your water has gone bad. Some
Here are some common characteristics of contaminated or common traits of contaminated water are cloudiness and a
impure water: strange taste or smell. But, it is often your sense of taste that
 Odd taste can tell the difference – which by the time it reaches that
 Strange smell and sense, all you can do is spit it out! If there is a chemical taste
 Cloudiness to your bottled water, it is not healthy.

If you experience any of these, you might as well just toss How to store Water to extend its shelf life?
it out and get another bottle. It’s better to pay an extra You can help water stay fresh longer by storing it in your
Naira or two now, than medical expenses later. refrigerator immediately after use.

Here is a general rule of thumb for most kinds of bottled Never leave bottled water in direct sunlight or even inside
water: your car all day on a hot sunny day. Chemicals from the
UNOPENED Distilled Bottled Water lasts 2 years plastic container will heat and leak into the water. Drinking
water from these bottles that have been left in the sun, have
UNOPENED Flavoured Water lasts for 9 months been directly linked to breast cancer in women and studies
now show links to other types of cancer in both men and
UNOPENED Vitamin Water lasts for 9 months women.

UNOPENED Sparkling Water lasts for 1 year When choosing your bottled water, always look for water that
has gone through distillation, reverse osmosis, or is filtered
UNOPENED Coconut Water lasts for weeks to a couple with an absolute 1-micron filter.
of months depending on packaging & preservatives
As an added precaution, you could check for reliable
OPEN Bottled Water lasts for 3-5 days (if in a manufacturers of bottled water who are more likely to follow
refrigerator). best practices.
Respect Responsibility Resourcefulness
T H E R E G E N T D I G E S T
VOLUME 8 ISSUE 33