A French court has ruled in favour of Nestlé, allowing the company to continue marketing its Perrier sparkling water as 'natural' mineral water. The consumer group UFC-Que Choisir had sought a recall of all bottles, arguing that the use of microfiltration made the 'natural' label deceptive and posed a potential health risk.
The Nanterre court found insufficient evidence of an urgent health risk or a clear violation of the law to justify such drastic action. It ordered UFC-Que Choisir to pay Nestlé's legal costs. A Nestlé spokesperson welcomed the decision, stating that the food safety of Perrier natural mineral waters has always been guaranteed.
The case is part of a broader scandal surrounding French mineral water producers. Reports last year revealed that Perrier and others had been illegally treating water to prevent contamination. A Senate inquiry in May found that the French government had covered up the use of these treatments for years. Nestlé has since stopped the treatments and switched to microfiltration, which it says is safe and does not alter the mineral composition.
UFC-Que Choisir argued that microfiltration is an unauthorised treatment and that its use to remove contaminants suggests a potential health risk. In July, Nestlé withdrew its 0.2 micron microfiltration system at its Vergeze factory after a local authority request, replacing it with a 0.45 micron device already used for Vittel water. The new system is awaiting approval from local authorities.
Perrier, known for its distinctive green glass bottles, has been produced from spring water in southern France since the late 19th century and has been owned by Nestlé's Waters division since 1992. The Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages division reported revenues of 2.4 billion Swiss francs ($3 billion) in the first nine months of the year, less than 4% of the group's total revenue. Nestlé is exploring options to sell the unit as it focuses on larger brands.
