A French Senate report has brought to light serious allegations against Nestlé, suggesting that the multinational corporation engaged in non-compliant water treatment practices and that these actions were concealed by French government officials. The report, released earlier this week, claims that the French cabinet deliberately obscured the use of illegal methods, misleading the public about the safety and compliance of mineral water products.
According to European Union regulations, strict controls are in place regarding the treatment of mineral water products. These products are subjected to stringent rules to maintain integrity and safety. The Senate report contends that Nestlé has used unauthorized techniques, including activated carbon filters and ultraviolet treatments, at several factory locations, namely Vittel, Hépar, Contrex, and Perrier, in contravention of EU law.
This matter came to the attention of French authorities as far back as August 2021. The Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) was reportedly informed, but no subsequent action was initiated. Furthermore, the office of President Emmanuel Macron is also alleged to have been aware of these infractions since 2022. Attempts by the Director of Health, Jérôme Salomon, to publicly disclose the issue were reportedly halted by his own department of legal affairs, citing jurisdictional overreach.
In 2024, Nestlé publicly justified its past use of these methods, attributing them to the necessity of addressing occasional contamination issues, such as faecal pollution, within the water supply, as per their testimony. The report also claims that Nestlé lobbied French officials to eschew enforcing the mineral water regulations against its operations.
The investigations leading to the publication of this report were carried out by a Senate committee headed by President Laurent Burgoa. This development raises significant questions regarding regulatory oversight and corporate accountability in the mineral water industry in France. The full details can be found on the original report from JURIST.