Towards the end of Perrier production in Gard? 1,000 jobs are at stake

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It's a economic earthquake potential which could occur in the Gard in the coming months. The industrial site Perrier of Vergèze is singled out again, in a recent report.

With him, the future of 1,000 employees working on site, is uncertain.

A long document from the Regional Health Agency (ARS), revealed by our colleagues at Monde and the cell Radio France investigationsconsiders a production stoppage of mineral water on the site of Vergèze (Gard), from 2025.

In question, according to the editors of this document, significant “ health risks » observed.

A worrying situation

” The quality of resources in water exploited on the site of Perrier hasVergèze( Gard ) East worrying », Estimate the ARS rapporteurs in a text, dated Friday August 30, 2024.

This same water would not respect “ the regulations in force ”, according to the authors of this document. The scientists recall that the source used in the Gard “must be microbiologically healthy and sheltered from everything risk of pollution ».

For the first time, the Regional Authority is seriously considering “a cessation of production of natural mineral water on this site.

Virological risks observed

Others public health risks
are also singled out in the document published by the regional institution.

Thus, the microfilters still used by Nestlé “have not no effect retentionon viruses”, while “the inspectors have not since received a detailed control plan of different viruses.

A future on hold

With this report, the very future of the Gard site is uncertain. The report written at the end of summer follows an unannounced inspection, carried out in May 2024 by several experts from the Occitanie Regional Health Agency.

We operate on the Vergèze site, in accordance with the framework set by the authorities and under their control. We will make further comments on this matter, after having read the final report (from the ARS).

The latter invite the Swiss group to “ question yourself strategically » on another possible food use of its catchments in the Gard and “under conditions which would provide health safety guaranteeswhich will prove indispensable.”

The future of1,000 employeesworking on this industrial site now finds itself in limbo. Alone, the Gard prefecture will decide whether or not to continue exploitation.

The Nestlé group has in fact filed with the State, a application for renewal of operating authorizationof the “Perrier source” to produce natural mineral water on its site Vergèze ( Gard). The previous request dates from end of year 2023 .

Yet another episode

The information, revealed Monday December 16, constitutes a new episode in the controversy concerning the Gard site of the global giant Nestlé Waters, owner of Perrier, since one the. In recent months, several health scandals have marred the life of this vast industrial site.

A few weeks earlier, no less than 2 million bottleshad to be destroyed, still in Gard.

This followed a document published by the Gard prefecture, stating that “a contaminationwas observed from Sunday10 mars 2024» and that, as a result, “bottled water can cause arisk to consumer health ».

Nestlé Waters management claimed at the time that this was due to a “point microbiological deviation“, ensuring that “the bottles marketed at the time could beconsumed safely ».

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