French Senate Inquiry Accuses Government of Covering Up Nestlé's Illegal Water Treatment Practices
The inquiry reveals illegal practices concerning bottled water treatment by Nestlé, prompting questions about government transparency and consumer safety.
A recent inquiry conducted by the French Senate has alleged that the government under President Emmanuel Macron engaged in a cover-up regarding Nestlé's illegal treatment of bottled water, including products under the iconic Perrier brand.
The inquiry's findings, released on Monday, center on Nestlé's use of treatments designed to prevent bacterial or chemical contamination of water marketed as 'natural mineral water' and 'spring water.' This practice is prohibited under both French and European regulatory frameworks.
The Senate's report concludes that the French government concealed what it described as 'illegal practices.' It highlights a distinct lack of transparency not only from Nestlé Waters but also from the government itself.
The inquiry underscores the seriousness of the allegations, with French media having initially reported on these banned treatments last year.
The inquiry noted a 'deliberate strategy' of concealment, starting from the government’s first discussions on the matter in October 2021. By 2022, authorities had allowed Nestlé to implement a plan to replace the illegal treatments with microfiltration, despite evidence pointing toward on-going misconduct.
In 2022, Nestlé publicly acknowledged the use of prohibited treatments and opted to pay a fine of 2 million euros (approximately $2.2 million) to evade further legal repercussions.
The Senate inquiry involved testimonies from over 120 individuals, including Nestlé's CEO and senior managers, although Alexis Kohler, who served as the secretary general of the Elysee presidential palace, declined to provide evidence despite multiple reported interactions with Nestlé executives.
The commission reported that the French presidency had been aware of Nestlé's misconduct since at least 2022. In a statement made in February, President Macron claimed ignorance of the situation and denied any collusion with the company.
The financial implications of Nestlé's actions are significant, with estimates from France's fraud control agency estimating the potential financial impact of these practices to be over 3 billion euros (approximately $3.38 billion).
Alexandre Ouizille, the rapporteur for the commission, noted that the pricing of natural mineral water can be 100 to 400 times that of tap water, raising concerns over consumer deception.
Comments from Ouizille also revealed disturbing insights from a visit to one of Nestlé's facilities in southern France, where 'sliding cabinets' were indicated as locations for carrying out the illegal treatments.
While the report states that no proven health risks to consumers have been established, Laurent Burgoa, the commission's president, reflected on the misleading nature of the situation, indicating personal consumption of Perrier without knowledge of the underlying issues.
The inquiry's findings, released on Monday, center on Nestlé's use of treatments designed to prevent bacterial or chemical contamination of water marketed as 'natural mineral water' and 'spring water.' This practice is prohibited under both French and European regulatory frameworks.
The Senate's report concludes that the French government concealed what it described as 'illegal practices.' It highlights a distinct lack of transparency not only from Nestlé Waters but also from the government itself.
The inquiry underscores the seriousness of the allegations, with French media having initially reported on these banned treatments last year.
The inquiry noted a 'deliberate strategy' of concealment, starting from the government’s first discussions on the matter in October 2021. By 2022, authorities had allowed Nestlé to implement a plan to replace the illegal treatments with microfiltration, despite evidence pointing toward on-going misconduct.
In 2022, Nestlé publicly acknowledged the use of prohibited treatments and opted to pay a fine of 2 million euros (approximately $2.2 million) to evade further legal repercussions.
The Senate inquiry involved testimonies from over 120 individuals, including Nestlé's CEO and senior managers, although Alexis Kohler, who served as the secretary general of the Elysee presidential palace, declined to provide evidence despite multiple reported interactions with Nestlé executives.
The commission reported that the French presidency had been aware of Nestlé's misconduct since at least 2022. In a statement made in February, President Macron claimed ignorance of the situation and denied any collusion with the company.
The financial implications of Nestlé's actions are significant, with estimates from France's fraud control agency estimating the potential financial impact of these practices to be over 3 billion euros (approximately $3.38 billion).
Alexandre Ouizille, the rapporteur for the commission, noted that the pricing of natural mineral water can be 100 to 400 times that of tap water, raising concerns over consumer deception.
Comments from Ouizille also revealed disturbing insights from a visit to one of Nestlé's facilities in southern France, where 'sliding cabinets' were indicated as locations for carrying out the illegal treatments.
While the report states that no proven health risks to consumers have been established, Laurent Burgoa, the commission's president, reflected on the misleading nature of the situation, indicating personal consumption of Perrier without knowledge of the underlying issues.
