Despite the announcement of replacement for microfiltration deemed not regulatory, the historic factory Perrier still threatened

Despite the announcement effects, the situation on the Vergèze site, in the Gard, remains uncertain. Two new boreholes are stopped, while the hypothesis of withdrawal from the status of natural mineral water still hangs on the iconic brand.

Mechanics now seem well oiled. In the case of mineral waters, unveiled by the Radio France investigation cell and The worldNestlé Waters continues to want to make declines for advances. In a press release published on June 27, the Swiss group announces that it has crossed one “important step“By removing its illegal filtration system (microfilter 0.2 micron) from its traffic jam sites, starting with that of Vergèze, in the Gard, the historic cradle of the Perrier brand.

The company is thus trying to communicate in an advantageous way on what resembles new difficulties: all of the drilling exploited to produce Perrier water is contaminated, according to health authorities. Bacteria of fecal origin have been found in raw waters, making their marketing under the name of “natural mineral water” theoretically impossible, this label imposing an original purity, without disinfection or treatment.

To hide this non-compliance, Nestlé has been using for years, and in all illegality, microfilters at 0.2 micron-devices prohibited by regulation on natural mineral waters, because it is assimilated to disinfection treatment. A bypass tolerated since February 2023 by the highest spheres of the State, despite the warnings of the former director general of health, Jérôme Salomon, who had judged this derogation “unacceptable“.

It was only after a series of media revelations and public pressures that the prefects of the Vosges and the Gard ended up demanding the withdrawal of these filters last May. Nestlé was therefore bent to the injunction, but to replace them … by filters at 0.45 micron. No doubt just as problematic. Their use can only be tolerated if the operator proves that they do not modify the original microbism of water-that is to say that they do not filter the microorganisms which are naturally present there.

However, to date, Nestlé has not provided any evidence in this direction. Neither for the Vergèze, nor for that of the Vosges (where Vittel, Contrex and Hépar are produced). Questioned on this subject, the company did not respond to the requests of Franceinfo. She just says that “The health safety of all the bottled waters is guaranteed“. A declaration in flagrant contradiction with the conclusions of the National Health Security Agency (ANSES), which underlined in October 2023 in a report given to the government that the health security of the products of the Nestlé Waters group could no longer be guaranteed.

Socialist deputy Alexandre Ouizille, rapporteur of the parliamentary commission of inquiry on the subject, does not go there by four paths: “The withdrawal of the filters illustrates how the state has failed at the highest level by validating the implementation of these now withdrawn treatments”.

“However, this withdrawal does not regulate anything concerning the categorization of perrier in natural mineral water, since raw waters are always contaminated”

Alexandre Ouizille, senator

in franceinfo

Clearly, Perrier should no longer be sold as natural mineral water. And that’s what Nestlé dreads. The group plans to submit, this July 4, a new operating request file. This will no longer concern, according to information from Franceinfo, only two of the seven historical wells. Two additional wells (R4-R4 bis) were removed from the farm. A way to refocus production on the least affected boreholes, in the hope of saving what can still be of the prestigious label.

But nothing says that the outcome will be favorable. The Gard prefecture, in charge of investigating the file, warned: “The company will have to prove that its new filtration system does not change water microbism. To date, she has not done so. ” A challenge that will not be easy to take up, because the filters are precisely designed to eliminate microorganisms, and therefore … modify the microbism of water.

But by refocusing her authorization request on two boreholes, Nestlé may not seek so much to save her brand as to save the time necessary to finalize the resale of his water division, Nestlé Waters). A sale entrusted to the Rothschild bank. While it multiplies requests for administrative stay, the group continues to bottle and negotiate, trying to reassure future buyers about the continuity of the activity. GOODIt is the employees of the Vergèze factory who could pay the costs of the operation, because in the event of sale to an investment fund – now probable scenario – social conditions and jobs could be highly impacted.