The use of a banned treatment to purify mineral water, recognized on Monday by the Nestlé group, concerns about a third of the brand in France, it reported on Tuesday. world and Radio France, citing the Igas inspectors’ report.
Referring to the “conclusions” of the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (Igas) report submitted to the government in July 2022, the two media write, “The work revealed that about 30% of commercial designations go through the non-compliance process.” .
“No health risks have been identified at this stage.”
“(Igas’) mission has no doubts about the fact that the figure of 30% (of the relevant trade names) underestimates the occurrence and all ore carriers are concerned”, it is indicated in this report, sure. world and Radio France. “This report contains data subject to business confidentiality,” a government source said on Tuesday. This source believes that “no health risk associated with bottled water quality has been identified at this stage”.
In its investigation, Radio France nevertheless underlines that, according to Igas inspectors, if “on the whole”, “the conformity level for bottled water is high, it is not reasonable to conclude that the health risk is fully controlled, especially the microbiological risk”. .
Like Nestlé, Alma denies any health risk to consumers. “All the tests by the health authorities showed that our waters were healthy.”
No “Non-Compliant Process Methods”
A government source confirmed that Igas was assigned an “inspection mission of natural mineral water and spring water packaging plants” in France, following an approach by Nestlé in the summer of 2021, which admitted to officials “non-compliant processing practices at (its) production sites.” ”.
The practices were disclosed to the press on Monday by Nestle Waters, the world’s number one in mineral water, which took the lead in confirming that they will no longer be used in its brands (Perrier, Vittel, Hépar and Contrex).
The preliminary investigation was opened
According to world and Radio France, the affair began in late 2020, when a former employee of Source Alma, a company that produces about thirty bottled waters in France, including Crystalline, Saint-Yorre and Vichy Celestins, reported to the Fraud Suppression (DGCCRF). Suspicious Transactions in Group Factory”. This investigation by the DGCCRF led to the opening of a preliminary investigation by the Cusat Public Prosecutor’s Office (Allier) targeting acts of fraud, referring to two media.
The group confirmed that it is the subject of “legal proceedings” related to “old and isolated facts specific to certain production sites”. Crystalline water, one of the best-sellers in France, “has never been targeted”, he insisted.
Another judicial inquiry has been launched targeting the Nestlé Waters group for regulatory breaches, a government source confirmed without specifying the location. According to Radio France and worldIt was opened by the Epinal Public Prosecutor’s Office.
reactions in the environment activist
Ecologists (formerly EELV) demanded sanctions against the world’s number one in mineral water, Greens boss Marine Tondelier, announced on Tuesday on X. “Natural bottled water sells for 100 times more than tap water,” she lamented.
“It seems logical that an investigation would be launched by the court to determine the companies’ responsibilities, but the policies that were in place at the time and that would have covered these actions,” ecologists.
Consumer defense association Foodwatch announced its intention to file a complaint on Tuesday. “No multinational company is above the law. However, it appears that companies have chosen to ignore the law in order to continue selling their products,” said Ingrid Kragel, FoodWatch’s information director, in a press release.
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