Highlights: In France, Nestlé admits to having carried out illegal treatments on its bottled water. The investigation began in 2020 with an alert launched to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Control in France. The problem is that mineral water is supposed to be naturally “ pure ” water that doesn’t need any treatment. The regulation, resulting from a European directive, prohibits any disinfection of mineral waters, because they must naturally be of high microbiological quality, unlike tap water which is disinfected before becoming drinkable.

Nestlé Waters, the world's number one mineral water company, has deceived consumers for years, according to an investigation by our colleagues at Radio France and the newspaper Le Monde. Journalists reveal…

In France, Nestlé admits to having carried out illegal treatments on its bottled water

Nestlé Waters, the world's number one mineral water company, has deceived consumers for years, according to an investigation by our colleagues at Radio France and the newspaper

Le Monde

. Journalists revealed this Tuesday, January 30 that the Swiss multinational was using treatments that did not comply with regulations to treat its mineral waters.

Entrance of the Nestlé factory in Contrexéville, in the Vosges, May 10, 2023. AFP - JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN

By: RFI Follow

The investigation began in 2020 with an alert launched to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Control in France, following the report of an employee of a bottled water production company. The repression of fraud then looks at the treatments that mineral waters would undergo - treatments prohibited by law.

During their research, investigators realized that the practice would be common. “

The work revealed that nearly 30% of commercial designations undergo non-compliant processing

,” according to

Le Monde

and Radio France, which cite the conclusions of a report from the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (Igas), submitted to the government in July 2020, and that the mineral water giant Nestlé uses it for all its brands, on its two water production sites in France, in the Vosges, for the Vittel, Contrex and Hépar brands, and in the Gard, for Perrier.

Illegal filters

Radio France reports that Nestlé “

subjects its mineral water to treatments that do not comply with regulations: injection of iron sulfate and industrial CO2, microfiltration

” with activated carbon or ultraviolet light. These filters are commonly used to treat running water.

The problem is that mineral water is supposed to be naturally “ pure

” water

that doesn’t need any treatment. The regulation, resulting from a European directive, prohibits any disinfection of mineral waters, because they must naturally be of high microbiological quality, unlike

tap water

which is disinfected before becoming drinkable.

Bottling line of a Nestlé waters factory, July 19, 2010, in Vittel. AFP - JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN

And it is for this spring water that consumers pay. “

Bottled mineral water is 100 times more expensive than tap water

,” estimates

Le Monde

, but according to Nestlé’s marketing materials, it is also supposed to be “

purer

,” “

healthier

,” “

better for health

Nestlé would not have just used illegal filters. Investigators also discovered that “

the company mixed its spring water directly with water… from the tap

.”

Investigation by Radio France and Le Monde to read hereNestlé and other manufacturers illegally purified contaminated water to continue selling it

Nestlé defends itself

This Monday, upon learning that the press was going to reveal the affair, Nestlé took the initiative to communicate. The company acknowledges having used prohibited filters, but assures that these treatments “

have always had the objective of guaranteeing food safety

”.

The company justifies the use of these techniques by “

changes in the environment around its sources

”. In other words, the water was polluted by “

different chemical or microbiological elements

”, which accumulate as “

the water passes through the groundwater or through its path through the factory pipes

”.

Nestlé France now claims to have abandoned the prohibited treatments and even closed the problematic wells. According to the authorities, there is no further risk for consumption. However, the various administrative reports carried out in recent years show that Nestlé deliberately concealed these contaminations and these treatments. Justice says today that it “

could launch proceedings for deception

”.

Covered by the government

The French media investigation also reveals that the government is aware. In 2021, the multinational itself requested a meeting with the Ministry of Industry, a meeting that remained confidential.

Nestlé, which holds more than a third of the bottled water market in France, recognizes everything, and explains that without these treatments, it would no longer be possible for them to exploit its water sources, regularly contaminated by bacteria or by chemicals such as pesticide residues. The government does not take legal action and Nestlé even requests exemptions.

These exemptions have, it seems, been obtained, since last February, following a meeting of the ministries of Economy and Health and led by Matignon, the office of the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, granted Nestlé “

the possibility of authorizing the practice of microfiltration

”.

Also read: The bottled water industry is hampering universal access to drinking water

In France, Nestlé admits to having carried out illegal treatments on its bottled water

In France, Nestlé admits to having carried out illegal treatments on its bottled water

Illegal filters

Nestlé defends itself

Covered by the government

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