A French court has delivered a significant victory for Nestlé, ruling that the food and drink giant can continue to market its Perrier sparkling water as 'natural' mineral water. The case was brought by French consumer advocacy group UFC-Que Choisir, which had sought a full recall of the product.
Court Rejects Consumer Group's Claims
The Nanterre court ruled on Tuesday, 18th November 2025, that there was insufficient evidence to support the consumer group's claims of an urgent health risk or a clear violation of the law. The court subsequently ordered UFC-Que Choisir to pay Nestlé's legal costs.
UFC-Que Choisir had argued that Perrier's use of microfiltration meant the water could not truthfully be described as 'natural'. They also raised concerns that this filtration process, which had not been fully approved by authorities, could pose a potential health risk.
However, the court dismissed these arguments, allowing Perrier to be sold as before. A Nestlé spokesperson welcomed the decision, stating, "Today's decision confirms that the food safety of Perrier natural mineral waters has always been guaranteed."
Background of the Perrier Scandal
This legal dispute is the latest development in an ongoing scandal for the iconic brand. The controversy erupted last year after French media reported that Perrier and other mineral water producers had been illegally treating their water to prevent contamination.
An inquiry commissioned by France's Senate revealed in May that the French government had covered up the use of these treatments for years. Nestlé expressed regret for the use of the treatments and has since ceased using them.
The company switched to microfiltration, a process it asserts is safe and does not alter the water's mineral composition. UFC-Que Choisir contended that this new method is simply another unapproved treatment, and its use to remove contaminants suggests a potential health risk remains.
New Filtration System Awaits Approval
Nestlé's Waters division, which has owned the Perrier brand since 1992, is now navigating the regulatory landscape for its new system. In July, following a request from local authorities, the company replaced the 0.2 micron microfiltration at its Vergeze factory with a 0.45 micron device.
This larger filtration system is already used for its Vittel water and has been discussed with authorities. The new system is part of a broader dossier awaiting approval from local officials to continue mineral water production at the Vergeze site.
The outcome of this case and the brand's future are of considerable financial importance. Revenue for the Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages division reached 2.4 billion Swiss francs ($3 billion) in the first nine months of the year, accounting for less than 4% of the group's total revenue. Reuters has reported that the Swiss food giant is exploring options for a sale of the unit as it refocuses on bigger brands.
