Paris (AP) – The government of the French president Emmanuel Macron covered decisions about the illegal treatment of mineral water by the Nestlé company, including the famous Perrier brand, said a commission of investigation of the Senate on Monday.
The report focused on the years of use by Nestlé of treatments to avoid bacterial or chemical pollution of water labeled as “natural mineral water” or “spring water” for brands that also include Contrex, Vittel and Hépar. Such treatments are prohibited under French and European regulations.
The report concluded that the France government had hidden “illegal practices.”
“In addition to the lack of transparency of Nestlé Waters, the lack of transparency of the French government must also be highlighted,” he said.
French media reported on prohibited treatments last year. Nestlé paid a fine to avoid legal actions.
The report indicated a “deliberate strategy” of concealment from the first government meeting on the subject in October 2021. Months later, the authorities agreed a plan with Nestlé to replace the prohibited treatments with microfiltration.
Nestlé did not immediately respond to a request for comments. The government of France did not comment immediately.
Last year, the Swiss company publicly recognized having used treatments in mineral waters and agreed to pay a fine of 2 million euros (2.2 million dollars) to avoid legal shares.
The Investigation Commission interviewed more than 120 people, including the Nestlé CEO and senior managers. One refused to speak: Alexis Kohler, then general secretary of the Presidential Palace of Elyseo, who, according to the report, has spoken several times with Nestlé executives on the phone or in person.
The commission concluded “that the Presidency of the Republic knew, at least since 2022, that Nestlé had been cheating for years.”
Asked about the scandal in February, Macron said that “I was not aware of these things … there is no collusion with anyone.”
Estimated fraud at more than 3 billion dollars
Alexandre Ouizille, the commission’s rapporteur, indicated that the total fraud amount has been estimated at more than 3 billion euros (3,380 million dollars) by the France agency in charge of fraud control.
Natural mineral water is sold between 100 and 400 times the price of tap water, he said, denouncing “deception to consumers.”
Ouizille described a Nestlé plant in southern France that the commission visited, where there were “sliding cabinets behind which illegal treatments were carried out.”
The report said Nestlé argued that there was a risk of loss of jobs if the government did not authorize any type of treatment or microfiltration, because their plants would have to close because spring water was contaminated by bacteria such as bacteria E. coliwhich can cause serious diseases and death.
Laurent Burgoa, the president of the commission, said there has been no damage proven to the health of people who drank water sold by Nestlé.
“Personally, I drank some Perrier … but I didn’t know what I was drinking, that’s the problem,” Burgoa said.
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