An investigation by the French Senate has revealed serious allegations regarding the practices of Nestlé, the Swiss multinational food and beverage company, in processing mineral water, particularly concerning its well-known brand, Perrier.

The report indicates that the French government may have engaged in a cover-up ‘at the highest levels’ regarding the lack of transparency in the operations of Nestlé Waters.

In recent years, Nestlé has faced increasing scrutiny over its methods of processing mineral water, amid stringent European Union regulations governing the allowed treatments for products marketed as natural mineral water.

The Senate investigation, which lasted six months and included over 70 hearings, concluded that not only did Nestlé lack transparency, but that the state also failed in its duties towards local authorities and the French public.

The report cited a deliberate strategy to withhold information, which was discussed at a ministerial meeting focused on natural mineral water on October 14, 2021. Nearly four years later, no significant transparency improvements have been made.

Nestlé acquired Perrier in the early 1990s.

The brand is traditionally served with ice and a slice of lemon and is sourced from a spring in southern France.

In late 2020, the new management of Nestlé Waters disclosed discovering the use of prohibited treatments on Perrier, as well as on the brands Évian and Contrex.

Subsequently, Nestlé reached out to the government to seek support and proposed a remediation plan in mid-2021, even contacting the Élysée Palace directly.

After 18 months of negotiations, authorities approved a plan to replace the banned ultraviolet treatments and carbon filters with microfiltration technology.

This method can be employed to remove iron or manganese; however, it requires that the product prove it does not alter the water's original characteristics.

European law stipulates that natural mineral water must not be sterilized or treated in any manner that changes its properties.

The Senate report indicated that despite evidence of consumer deception involved in sterilizing the water, no legal actions were taken as revealed in 2021. The report further noted that the decision to allow microfiltration without a threshold of 0.8 microns was made at the highest levels of government.

The findings coincide with actions taken by various authorities, including the office of then-Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, although it appears she was not made aware.

It was also reported that President Emmanuel Macron's office had known since at least 2022 that Nestlé had been engaging in deceptive practices for several years.

Alexis Kohler, then-secretary general of the Élysée, held discussions with Nestlé executives.

In 2024, Nestlé Waters publicly acknowledged the use of banned filters and ultraviolet treatments for its mineral water.

The company paid a fine of two million euros (approximately 2.2 million dollars) to avoid legal action regarding the use of illegal water sources and its purification methods.

Nonetheless, the company maintained that the alternative filters had government approval and asserted that its water remains ‘pure’.