ESG Enforcement Tracker

Key facts:

A 2024 investigation by Le Monde and Radio France stated that Perrier (owned by Nestlé), and a third of French mineral water sold in France, had been using prohibited purification techniques to treat “natural mineral water” due to concerns about water contamination. EU and French law requires mineral water to be unaltered from its source, with only minimal filtration allowed.

In 2024, Nestlé Waters admitted using banned filters and ultraviolet treatment on mineral waters, which must be processed naturally by law. To avoid legal action, Nestlé paid a €2.2 million fine. At the time Nestlé alleged that the government approved the replacement filters and that its water was “pure”.

A French Senate Committee reported in May 2025 that the French authorities had known about Nestle’s non-compliant treatment, had demonstrated minimal and/or delayed response to this, and that there had been strong lobbying by Nestle and over deference by the authorities to its demands. The report made a series of recommendations to restore consumer trust and reinforce compliance.

Following consumer complaints, a French magistrate also launched an investigation into Nestlé and rival bottler, Sources Alma, over suspicions of illegal processing of mineral water.

Nestlé has since claimed it has complied with the law by removing certain filtration devices at its southern French site but has yet to substantiate a claim that its water remains “pure”.