Unacceptable bacterial contamination, virological risk… A shutdown of Perrier water production is planned

Will Nestlé continue to jeopardize the health of people who drink its bottled water? Will the health risks incurred because of these finally cease? So many questions that remain unanswered, almost a year after the revelations on the use of banned treatments on its Hépar, Vittel, Contrex and Perrier brands, with the blessing of the government. And a damning new report still points to a danger, according to a daily investigation The World and the investigation unit of Radio France.

An unannounced inspection, on May 30, by agents of the Occitanie Regional Health Agency (ARS), took place at Nestlé's Perrier factory in Gard. Following this visit, an inspection report dated August 30, 2024, and revealed this Monday, December 16, once again highlights the health risks incurred after ingesting Perrier water.

The ARS plans to stop production

Thus, the quality of exploited water resources is still not sufficient to produce natural mineral water, warns the health authority. This does not comply with regulations, which require that water be “microbiologically healthy” et “kept protected from any risk of pollution”.

In addition, the health authority is considering for the first time “a cessation of the production of natural mineral water on the Vergèze site”. The ARS invites Nestlé Waters to “question yourself strategically” on another possible food use of its catchments, “under conditions which would provide guarantees of health safety, which will prove essential”. Nestlé has, to date, not responded to journalists from the two media outlets who conducted the investigation.

The objective was to “monitor the correct dismantling of prohibited treatments” and of “verify the traceability and manufacturing practices of products”according to the mission letter from the prefect of Gard, Jérôme Bonet, that the investigation unit of Radio France and The World were able to consult.

“Unacceptable” bacterial contamination

Indeed, although certain unauthorized treatments have been interrupted, inspectors emphasize that “the conditions for carrying out the inspection did not make it possible to ensure » that there is no more “unauthorized processing in the factory ».

They also note that “on a technical level, nothing prevents the treatment of natural mineral water by unauthorized processes used for other types of water”. Even more worrying: quality controls carried out by the Nestlé group present microbiological results “unusual for natural mineral water”, with a “water instability”and the presence of micro-organisms in raw water, which is strictly prohibited by regulations on natural mineral waters.

Moreover, while last April Nestlé destroyed three million bottles of Perrier after discovering fecal germs, a cleaning operation carried out on two other wells, at the same period, revealed a new episode of contamination by this type of germs, according to the report. The ARS considers that these “bacterial contamination”well that “punctual”are “unacceptable for natural mineral water”.

The prefecture must decide on the operating authorization

A possible “virological risk” (adenovirus, norovirus, hepatitis A) is also denounced. And for good reason: the microfilters still used by Nestlé “have no retention effect on viruses”while “the mission [d’inspection] has not been provided with a detailed virus control plan”. This important risk had however already been highlighted during the revelations of January 2024. And yet, it seems to have been neglected by the government, underline Radio France journalists.

The Gard prefecture must decide on the request for renewal of the operating authorization for the « source Perrier » to produce natural mineral water, filed in October 2023 by Nestlé. The prefecture indicated that it could make its decision during the “first half of 2025” after receiving a “opinions of approved hydrogeologists in matters of public hygiene”, complementary to the ARS report.