A French judge has rejected an appeal from a consumer association that called for the famous Perrier water to be withdrawn from the market, due to the discovery of several irregularities in its production, which French media called the “Perrier scandal”. Nestlé, owner of the Perrier brand, was accused of using unauthorized filters to purify water that was sporadically contaminated with bacteria and pesticide residue, with the aim of passing quality controls that risked failing to pass.
The scandal and investigation began after a journalistic investigation by Le Monde And French Radio in 2024. Nestlé is accused of using unauthorized filters at Perrier plants to bypass water quality controls, which is prohibited by French and European law in the case of water sold as “natural minerals”. Water purified beyond certain limits or disinfected may be sold as “drinkable through processing”, but is sold at a much lower price than mineral water (it can also be distributed via tap).
The judge dismissed all appeals: he determined that there was no risk to public health, and that the information campaign launched in June by Nestlé to warn the public that their water did not comply with regulations was sufficient to protect consumers.
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