A French Senate investigation has uncovered a scandal alleging that the French government, potentially reaching as high as the Elysée Palace, yielded to pressure from Nestlé in relation to the contamination of natural mineral waters. The investigative commission, tasked with examining fraud involving natural mineral waters – specifically, the use of unauthorized filters to purify water contaminated by pesticides and fecal bacteria, as revealed by Le Monde and Radio France in January 2024 – presented its damning conclusions on Monday, May 19th.
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After six months of investigation, the parliamentary commission, chaired by Laurent Burgoa, a senator from the Gard region (where the Perrier plant is located), highlighted what rapporteur Alexandre Ouizille termed “the dangerous liaisons between the government and Nestlé,” and how the government allegedly succumbed to lobbying by the multinational food and beverage company, to the detriment of consumer protection. Le Monde and Franceinfo have obtained access to the report.
The commission’s findings reveal that a report from the regional health agency (ARS) of the Occitanie region was allegedly toned down at the bacteria.
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