Will we soon be saying goodbye to Perrier’s iconic green bottle for good? There is a strong possibility. A new health report has revealed that the quality of the natural mineral water produced in southern France “can no longer be guaranteed”. There is even said to be a “risk of viral contamination”.

The inspection report from the regional health agency of the French region of Occitanie dates back to August and reveals that the quality of the water source in the municipality of Vergèze – the historic source of Perrier – no longer meets the required standards. This was reported by the French newspaper Le Monde and the radio network Radio France. The agency recommends that Nestlé Waters, the owner of Perrier, permanently cease production of the mineral water in Vergèze.

According to the report, the quality of the water can no longer be guaranteed and there is a “virological risk” for consumers. “The situation is worrying,” the report states.

Nestlé Waters, the parent company of Perrier, declined to comment on the report before it became final. “We operate the Vergèze site in accordance with the framework established by the authorities and under their supervision,” the company said in a statement to the French news agency AFP.

Faecal Bacteria

In April, Nestlé destroyed hundreds of pallets of Perrier after faecal bacteria, in other words bacteria originating from faeces, were discovered in one of the water sources. This was reportedly the result of heavy rainfall in March, when Storm Monica hit southeastern France. In the report, the health agency concludes that this bacterial contamination, although isolated, is “unacceptable”.

French authorities have been keeping a close watch on Nestlé, which also produces the water brands Vittel, Contrex and Hépar, since the end of January. The company had admitted that unauthorised treatments were being used to purify mineral water. These included treatments using ultraviolet radiation and activated carbon, which are not permitted when bottles carry the label “natural mineral water” or “spring water”.

Source: FranceInfo, RTL, 17 December 2024
Image: Reuters

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