A long-term investigation has just been published by the newspaper The world and Radio France. On the agenda: deceptions and concealments on the composition of bottled water and fraudulent practices. On the dock are the Alma group and, unsurprisingly, the giant Nestlé.
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Cristaline, Vittel, Perrier, Contrex… These bottled water brands have long been references for many French people. This was without taking into account an investigation carried out by The world and the investigation unit of Radio France.
The two media reveal fraudulent practices within all the bottled water producing factories owned by Nestlé (Vittel, Perrier, San Pellegrino, Hépar, etc.), and within the Alma group (Cristale, St-Yorre, etc.). .). In this case: the use of non-compliant water treatments, including the injection of sulfate ironironCO2 industrial, exposure to UVUV and practices of microfiltrationmicrofiltration below the thresholds authorized by law.
Practices that companies justify by the need to maintain the safety of their bottled water, the sources of which are not spared by the global warmingglobal warming and regularly polluted. Yes, but here it is: through treatment, bottled water is no longer really distinguishable from tap water, except for its price.
The government informed since 2021
After a mea culpa orchestrated by Nestlé following an investigation into the practices of the Alma group, an interministerial meeting would have been organized in February 2023, at the end of which the Swiss giant would have obtained the possibility of continuing some of these non-compliant practices. What raises concerns about the transparencytransparency and government regulations.
The subsequent administrative investigation revealed that nearly 30% of bottled water brands, including 100% of Nestlé’s, were using non-compliant treatments. A figure that is probably very underestimated, warn the authors of the report, given the numerous deliberate cover-ups and manipulations to deceive health controls.
Although Nestlé has since claimed to have suspended various wells and withdrawn certain treatments, questions remain about the current safety of mineral waters. L’General Inspectorate of Social Affairs warned that the withdrawal of non-compliant treatments could create risks for consumers. Judicial investigations have been opened, but discrepancies in the actions of regional health agencies (ARS) and prosecutors raise concerns about how the case will be handled by the government.
