Sparkling water is the drink that piles up. A twelve-pack turns into six cans, then three, and eventually one lonely bottle rolls around the back of the pantry with a date from a few seasons ago. It’s easy to wonder whether it’s still any good, or whether it was ever more than flavored bubbles to begin with. The honest answer depends on which kind of sparkling water you’re holding, because a plain seltzer, a mineral water, and a can with real fruit in it don’t age the same way.
Does sparkling water go bad?
The short answer: Plain sparkling water generally doesn’t spoil the way food does. A sealed, undamaged can or bottle past its date is usually a quality question, not a safety one. USDA’s general guidance is that dates on shelf-stable food mark quality, and the bubbles are what fade. Versions with juice, sweeteners, or vitamins are not plain water, so check their labels and any best-by date. Once opened, plan on using it within a day or so. None of LaCroix, Perrier, or Spindrift gave us a shelf-life figure, so we don’t print one.
For a complete pantry storage reference, see our Food Storage Guide.
Does Sparkling Water Go Bad: At a Glance
Plain sparkling water, sealed, past the date
Plain cans and bottles generally stay safe past the date under USDA’s dating guidance; the bubbles are what fade
Flavored with fruit, juice, or vitamins
Treat it as a different product; follow its label and best-by date
Opened, capped, refrigerated
Best finished the same day or the next for lively bubbles
Left open on the counter for hours or days
Pour it out
Expiration date required?
The bottled water trade group IBWA says FDA doesn’t require one for bottled water
Storage
Room temperature or cooler, out of direct sun, away from solvents and chemicals (IBWA)
Bulging, leaking, or heavily rusted container
Discard without opening, whatever the date says
Key Takeaways
“Sparkling water” covers very different drinks: plain seltzer, naturally sparkling mineral water, fruit-containing cans, and sweetened or fortified versions.
The printed date is a quality marker. USDA says dating isn’t a safety indicator, and the trade group IBWA says FDA doesn’t require an expiration date for bottled water.
Fizz is what you notice fading first. Once it’s gone, you’re left with the water and whatever minerals or other ingredients the product started with.
Heat, sun, and fumes near plastic bottles are the storage problems to avoid.
Citrus flavors raise acidity, which matters most if you sip all day.
An opened bottle that has been left out is not worth saving.
What FDA Means by “Sparkling” and “Mineral”
FDA’s bottled water rule, 21 CFR 165.110, defines “sparkling bottled water” as water that keeps the same amount of carbon dioxide it had at emergence from the source, even after treatment and possible replacement of the gas. Mineral water must contain at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids, and no minerals may
