Is it safe to drink coconut water from a carton?
Usually yes. Cartons are useful, but the drink still touches a plastic liner.
What's actually in it
A shelf-stable coconut water carton is usually layered packaging. Paperboard gives it structure. Aluminum helps block light and oxygen. A thin plastic liner touches the drink.
That does not make carton coconut water a crisis. It does mean the carton is not the same as glass. If you drink it every day, packaging contact is worth reducing where it is easy.
What the research says
A 2025 study in J Hazard Mater tested 109 food samples and found plasticizers in 85% of them. The study also found significant differences by packaging type for ATBC and DEHA.
This was not a coconut water carton test, so keep the claim narrow. The source supports the practical rule that packaging type can affect plastic-additive exposure.
If coconut water is occasional, cartons are reasonable. If it is daily, choose glass bottles when available, or pour a cold portion into a clean glass jar at home.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic additives in the diet: Occurrence and dietary exposure in different population groups. | J Hazard Mater | 2025 |