Bottled water is two years old

Bottled mineral water could be almost two years old by the time it is bought by consumers, it was revealed today.

Supermarket shoppers who buy bottled water in the belief that it is fresher than tap water are unaware that it may in fact have sat on a warehouse shelf for most of its use-by date.

Professor Jeni Colbourne, head of the Drinking Water Inspectorate-said: "People have a perception-that bottled water is fresh because it's been sealed in a bottle, unsullied by human hands. But in fact it has probably spent most of that time in hot warehouses and on hot supermarket shelves."

In one warehouse, water was discovered which had been bottled up to 23 months ago. Water companies insist the airtight seals used on bottles mean they are still safe to drink even after two years.

Jo Jacobius, of the Natural Mineral Water Information Service, which represents 13 brands including Evian, Perrier, Buxton and Highland Spring, said: "The water is fine to drink after two years. It is not going to go 'off ' and the mineral content is kept the same."