Perrier, Contrex, Vittel… Nestlé comes out of silence and claims to have “intensified surveillance” of its French drilling

Selon l'expertise, la contamination des ressources est généralisée, dans la région Grand Est (Hépar, Vittel et Contrex) ou en Occitanie (Perrier). Montage Midi Libre – Photos MAXPP

A new document from the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES), unveiled by franceinfo and Le Monde this Thursday April 4, 2024, confirmed the widespread contamination of the Nestlé group’s natural mineral water sources in France. This Friday, April 5, 2024, Nestlé comes out of silence.

Put under pressure in France by revelations on the management of the quality of its bottled water sources, the agri-food giant Nestlé affirmed this Friday, April 5, 2024 at the' AFP having "intensified surveillance" of its drilling in the country.

"We have intensified monitoring of drilling under the control of the authorities" and "each bottle that leaves our sites can be drunk by consumers in complete safety", declared the president of Nestlé France, Muriel Lienau, in an interview with the" ;#39;AFP.

In France, Nestlé owns the Vittel, Contrex and Hépar brands, whose water is drawn and bottled in the Vosges (north-east), and Perrier in the Gard (south).

"Reinforced surveillance"

The French health agency (Anses) had recommended "reinforced surveillance" of the Swiss giant's collection sites due "to an insufficient level of confidence" in "evaluation of the quality of resources", in an October note revealed this Thursday, April 4 by the media Le Monde and franceinfo, and of which AFP obtained a copy.

This note mentions in particular "multiple findings of microbiological contamination of fecal origin" at the catchment level. At the start of the year, the group recognized the use, in France and Switzerland, of disinfection treatments, even though they are banned for professional qualifications. natural mineral water.

It must now maintain water quality with fewer tools at its disposal, on aquifers put under pressure by climate change and human activities ( wastewater management, use of pesticides…).

For three years,"all operating procedures for our sites have been reviewed" to comply with French regulations, explained Ms. Lienau.

This "transformation plan" includes a "strengthening of the measures of environmental protection" and quality control measures, and the removal of prohibited treatments. Ms. Lienau affirmed that the mentions of contamination of fecal origin could concern certain drillings "which are no longer in activity".

This Thursday, April 4, the consumer defense association Foodwatch requested the recall of Nestlé water bottles, as the head of the company did this Friday. the French environmentalist list for the Europeans, Marie Toussaint.

A preliminary investigation into deception is open

A preliminary investigation for deception is opened in France against Nestlé Waters concerning the use of prohibited purification treatments.

Another group, Alma, which produces around thirty brands of bottled water in France, including Saint-Yorre and Vichy Célestins, is also the subject of the investigation. a legal procedure relating, according to him "to old and isolated facts specific to certain production sites".