This Thursday, April 4, the newspaper The world et franceinfo publish a note from the National Social Security Agency (ANSES), about the natural mineral water sources of the Nestlé group in France. This expertise, submitted in mid-October 2023 to the Ministry of Health, was commissioned by the government following a request from the Grand Est and Occitanie regional health agencies, estimating that the health quality of the mineral waters of the Nestlé group is not “not guaranteed”, the specialists then recommended a “reinforced surveillance plan”.
These revelations follow a investigation conducted by The world and the Radio France investigation unit published on January 30 on the illegal filtering of the water bottled mineral sold by Nestlé. Indeed, the water would be contaminated by different substances such as pesticides or even bacteria. Faced with this pollution, according to the investigation, the company illegally filtered the water “For years”. Among the brands concerned, we note Perrier, Vittel, Hépar and Contrex.
Illegal filtering of bottled water by Nestlé: what we know
This revelation is part of the investigation published on January 30 carried out by The world and the investigation unit of Radio France. PFor several months, journalists have looked into the filtering treatments undergone by bottled water from Nestlé Waters. The group, world number 1 in mineral water, admitted to having used ultraviolet treatments and of carbon filters on some of its waters. The company justified this choice to Echoeson January 29, the day before the publication of the investigation, saying he had “violates the regulations to maintain the security of its waters”.
As the journalists of the Monde and the investigation unit of Radio France, three types of packaged water are defined by the Public Health Code:
- mineral waters,
- spring waters,
- water made drinkable by treatment.
According to the regulations, “the Mineral water natural and spring water are necessarily groundwater, microbiologically healthy, which must be kept protected from any risk of pollution”. Also, the text specifies that “this water can only be subject to a few treatments authorized by the regulations (separation of naturally present constituents such as iron or sulfur, in particular), disinfection of the water being prohibited”.
According to an Igas report, the results of which are relayed in the investigation, the sources exploited by Nestlé are regularly contaminated microbiologically but also by chemical pollutants. Currently, according to the multinational, which answers questions from journalists from Le Monde and the investigation unit of Radio France, ultraviolet treatments and activated carbon filters have been “withdrawn” from factories. On the other hand, the company says it continues to use microfiltration devices which would be “compatible with the regulatory framework”.
Illegally filtered bottled water: what are the health risks?
But what are the health risks? Questioned on this point by The world and the investigation unit of Radio France, Nestlé affirmed in the investigation published on January 30 that: “the health safety of our products has always been guaranteed and remains our top priority”. Same story from the Ministry of the Economy which emphasized that “no health risk linked to the quality of bottled water has not been identified at this stage”. According to Nestlé, the use of certain wells used for the production of Hépar and Contrex are currently “suspended”.
According to a report by inspectors from the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs and Health (Igas) commissioned by the government to “assess the use of treatments not authorized by manufacturers”and cited in the article “if ‘overall’ the level of compliance is high for bottled water, it would not be not prudent to conclude that the health risk is perfectly controlledparticularly microbiological risk”.
Furthermore, the inspectors added that removing “treatments” which had been used to compensate for a quality defect in the resource is problematic and that “their withdrawal is likely to cause a health risk”. And Igas emphasizes that the use of non-compliant filters “could “expose consumers to a health risk linked to the ingestion of viruses”.
Sources :
- Hépar, Perrier, Vittel, Contrex… The health quality of the Nestlé group’s water “not guaranteed” according to an expert report submitted to the government – franceinfo (04/04/2024)
- The “sanitary quality” of Nestlé mineral waters is not guaranteed, according to a confidential note from Anses – Le Monde (04/04/2024)
- Several bottled water producers have illegally filtered their water to hide contamination – franceinfo (01/30/2024)
- Bottled water: deceptive practices on a large scale – Le Monde (01/30/2024)
- Conditioned water – Ministry of Labor, Health and Solidarity
