Nestle: Water warning issued as bottled brands told French spring ‘is unsafe’ | World | News

Recent findings of faecal contamination at French springs, used by Nestlé for extracting mineral water, have prompted a warning from the national food watchdog, calling for enhanced surveillance measures.

According to a report leaked to French media, the National Agency for Food Safety (Anses) has identified a virological risk stemming from “transient microbiological contamination of faecal origin” in springs employed for bottled mineral waters in the eastern Vosges region and the southern Gard department.

Nestlé, renowned for producing brands like Vittel, Contrex, Hépar, and Perrier, operates in these regions. The report also highlighted the presence of PFAS, persistent pollutants originating from pesticides, though Nestlé’s bottled water wasn’t directly tested.

The report from October, revealed by France Info radio, urged heightened surveillance, cautioning against concluding that health risks are entirely managed, particularly concerning microbiological risks.

Responding to the concerns, a spokesperson from Nestlé assured compliance with regulations, adding that “all natural mineral water put on the market in France under the Hépar, Contrex, Vittel, or Perrier brands can be consumed safely”.

The spokesperson highlighted rigorous testing, covering 1,500 potential irregularities.

However, in January, Nestlé Waters acknowledged breaching French and EU regulations by using ultraviolet disinfection and activated carbon filtration for purifying bottled water, actions prohibited by France’s stringent appellation of origin laws for products labelled “natural mineral water”.

Although Nestlé ceased these practices, prosecutors in Épinal, the Vosges county seat, are still conducting preliminary inquiries following complaints by consumer groups.

Other brands bottling water at these springs, including Cristaline, Saint-Yorre, and Courmayeur, were also implicated for using illegal filtration methods. Notably, the French Danone group, producing Evian and Volvic water, remained unaffected.

In response to the developments, Foodwatch, a European campaign association, stressed about potential health hazards in Nestlé water.

“The European directive and the French health laws on water are crystal clear: if mineral water is polluted, you don’t delay. You withdraw it from sale and recall the product,” Ingrid Kragl, Foodwatch spokeswoman, said.