Water-gate in France: Perrier at the center of a mineral water scandal
France’s natural mineral water industry has been hit by a scandal surrounding brands’ treatment of their bottled water.
Sales of the famous Perrier sparkling water brand have reportedly taken a tumble in recent times, amid a scandal that has enveloped France’s world-renowned natural mineral water industry.
Perrier, which is owned by the Swiss food and drink giant Nestlé, saw sales drop by 23% between May 2024 and May 2025, according to RFI.
This comes as Perrier and other Nestlé-owned French brands, such as Vittel, have faced intense scrutiny over their handling of the water they sell.
Probe finds illegal water treatments
In early 2024, an investigation by Le Monde and Radio France revealed that “at least a third” of France’s natural mineral water brands had secretly been using illegal purification treatments on their water.
These banned treatments include the use of ultraviolet light and carbon filters - violating strict European Unions rules that prohibit altering natural mineral water from source to bottle.
“While these purification techniques are authorized for tap water or water labeled as ‘made drinkable by treatment,’ they are prohibited for water labeled as ‘spring water’ or ‘natural mineral water,’” Le Monde’s Stéphane Foucart explains.
“These are supposed to come from preserved underground resources and must not be disinfected.”
Companies that sell natural mineral water are able to market the product at a considerably higher price than other types of water.
Aside from natural mineral water brands owned by Nestlé, the spotlight has also fallen on labels operated by the French manufacturer Sources Alma, such as St-Yorre.
Senate points finger at government
In May this year, the French Senate released a report accusing the country’s government, under President Emmanuel Macron, of concealing knowledge of “illegal practices” by natural mineral water brands.
Per the Associated Press, the Senate pointed to a “deliberate strategy” to cover up the banned treatments after the government became aware of them in 2021.
“Really is our Water-gate”
Speaking to the BBC, Le Monde’s Stéphane Mandard declared: “This really is our Water-gate. It’s a combination of industrial fraud and state collusion.”
Macron, however, insists that there has been “no collusion with anyone”.
In September 2024, Nestlé paid a €2 million ($2.3 million) fine to avoid legal action over the scandal, having acknowledged that it used illegal filters and ultraviolet light treatments on its water.
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