A French Senate report found that the French government covered up consumer fraud by food giant Nestle, allowing the company to use prohibited treatments to produce natural mineral waters including Perrier.

Paris

A recent French Senate investigation has found that the French government allowed food giant Nestlé to use prohibited treatments in the production of natural mineral waters, including brands such as Perrier. The inquiry, which spanned six months and included more than 70 hearings, determined that authorities were aware of these unauthorized purification methods as early as 2022 but chose not to inform the public or pursue legal action.

European regulations require that natural mineral waters must not be disinfected or treated in ways that alter their characteristics. Despite these rules, the Senate report indicates that Nestlé used treatments that violated these requirements. Additionally, local and European authorities, as well as the public, were not informed of the situation.

Previous investigations by media outlets Le Monde and Radio France reported that approximately 30% of Nestlé's water brands employed unauthorised purification methods, with this practice allegedly continuing for over 15 years. French fraud authorities estimate this represents approximately three billion euros in consumer fraud. Mineral water, which is typically sold at a premium compared to tap water, is expected to come from protected underground sources and remain untreated.

Contamination issues have also been documented. Some wells used by Nestlé have been found to contain bacteria or persistent chemicals. The company’s microfiltration system can remove bacteria but not viruses. In a separate incident, Nestlé destroyed three million bottles of water due to contamination with faecal matter.

In 2021, Nestlé acknowledged its use of unauthorised treatments and requested the government change the regulations regarding allowable microfiltration, a request which was accepted in 2023. The office of President Emmanuel Macron has denied any agreement or collusion with Nestlé over this matter.



French government 'covered up' Nestle mineral water scandal

It's an iconic staple in France, but Perrier sparkling water and other mineral water brands owned by Nestlé are at the centre of a cover-up facilitated by the French government. That's according to a new Senate investigation and it's shaken consumer confidence. I feel like we've been cheated. I'm not buying it at the moment. I trust Tapwater more now. The report follows a six-month long Senate inquiry involving more than 70 hearings and as the government knew that Nestlé was using prohibited treatments on its bottled water going back to at least 2022. European law stipulates that products marketed as natural mineral waters cannot be disinfected or treated in any way that alters its characteristics. Despite the fact that this method of disinfection is a fraud against consumers, authorities chose not to pursue legal action following these revelations. They decided not to inform the public of this fraud, not to inform European authorities and not to inform local authorities who would have had direct oversight. But the scandal goes back much further. Last year, Le Monde newspaper and Radio France revealed that 30% of the Nestlé group's brands use prohibited water purification systems, a practice that's been going on for more than 15 years, representing 3 billion euros in fraud, according to a report by the French fraud authorities. Mineral water is sold for an average of 100 times more than tap water and is supposed to be collected directly from preserved underground sources so it doesn't require treatment. But several wells used by the group are occasionally contaminated by bacteria or so-called forever chemicals and the microfiltration system used gets rid of bacteria in the water, but viruses can survive. In April of last year, Nestlé had to destroy three million bottles that were infected with faecal matter. By 2021, Nestlé was admitting to using unauthorised treatments, but asked the government to change the regulations on the authorised level of microfiltration rather than change its practices, which the government agreed to in 2023. President Emmanuel Macron's office has denied any agreement or collusion with the Nestlé conglomerate.

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