PARIS: Client watchdog Foodwatch stated it was submitting a authorized criticism on Wednesday (Feb 21) in opposition to meals big Nestle and one other group over them allegedly fraudulently treating water for his or her high mineral water manufacturers.
A authorities probe reported by media final month stated about 30 per cent of mineral water bought in France had undergone purification remedy solely meant for use on faucet water.
Foodwatch stated it was lodging its criticism with a Paris courtroom in opposition to Nestle Waters, behind manufacturers equivalent to Perrier and Vittel, and the Sources Alma group, which additionally owns a number of water labels.
“It is a large fraud for which Nestle Waters, the Sources Alma group and the French authorities should reply,” the European watchdog stated.
“No one, not even a multinational like Nestle, is above the regulation,” Foodwatch spokeswoman Ingrid Kragl stated.
The NGO claimed Nestle Waters and Sources Alma had “illegally processed their bottled waters after which bought them with out informing shoppers”.
French regulation, based mostly on a European Union directive, forbids such purification of mineral water, which is meant to be of naturally top quality earlier than bottling.
French prosecutors final month stated they’d opened an investigation into suspected fraud by Nestle Waters after a criticism by France’s ARS well being regulator.
They spoke after Le Monde and Radio France reported {that a} authorities investigation had concluded in 2022 that “virtually 30 per cent of business manufacturers endure non-compliant remedies”.
Nestle Waters stated it put some high manufacturers, equivalent to Perrier and Vittel, by way of ultraviolet mild and lively carbon filters “to ensure meals security”, and had knowledgeable French authorities about this in 2021.
A authorities supply advised AFP that authorities had discovered “no well being threat” linked to the bottled water.
Foodwatch stated it had additionally written to the European Fee, denouncing “the complacency of France, which … ought to have alerted European authorities and the opposite member states importing these waters”.
