Mineral water fraud: Perrier, Vittel, Contrex and Hépar suspended after formal notice to Nestlé to remove its illegal filters

Natural mineral waters marketed by Nestlé (Perrier, but also Vittel, Contrex, and Hépar) are more than ever on borrowed time. In a decision made public on Wednesday, May 7, the prefect of Gard, Jérôme Bonet, ordered the world leader in bottled water to stop using "0.2 micron diameter filters" in its Perrier factory in Vergèze, considering that they were "in contradiction with regulations." He gave it two months to remove them.

The Vosges prefecture has given the same ultimatum to the food giant for its Vittel site, which produces, in addition to the brand of the same name, Contrex and Hépar, according to information from Franceinfo confirmed by Le Monde . The Gard prefect specifies that "the Perrier bottles sold to date do not present any health risk for consumers."

Contacted by Le Monde , the company declared that it was "determined to seek solutions following the request from the prefects of Gard and Vosges to withdraw, within two months, microfiltration at 0.2 microns." The group indicates that a "technical solution has been identified for the Vosges site" for the Contrex and Hépar brands, and that Vittel is "not concerned by this type of microfiltration" . This technique still needs to be "validated" by the authorities. For Vergèze and Perrier, the same source says that a "technical solution will be sought" which "could allow the prefect to consider authorizing the continued exploitation of Perrier natural mineral water from Vergèze" .

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