2 million bottles of Perrier were destroyed by a French agency April 26, 2024

By AFP - Agence France Presse

2 million bottles of Perrier were destroyed by a French agency

Perrier has destroyed two million bottles of its famous sparkling water suspected of being contaminated with "fecal" bacteria by order of the government, the public health agency said on Thursday.

The announcement of the destruction was the latest blow to Swiss food giant Nestlé, whose French water subsidiary is being criminally investigated for allegedly using illegal means to produce the water. 

criminal investigation for allegedly using illegal means to purify its mineral water.

Health authorities in the Occitanie region of southern France told Nestlé Waters France to destroy all Perrier production from March 10 to 14 from one of its sources near Nimes, the DGS health agency said in a document shared with AFP.

Nestlé said that around two million bottles were destroyed "as a precaution". The company said Perrier bottles in stores are safe.

Earlier this month, regional authorities ordered Nestlé Waters France to "immediately suspend" production at one of its springs near Nimes, according to a copy of the order seen by AFP.

The order said that "fecal" contamination had been recorded since March 10.

Nestlé also owns the Vittel, Contrex, and Hepar brands, and French prosecutors opened an investigation in January into its purification methods.

The company admitted that it disinfected water using UV lamps, carbon filtration, and other means that are not allowed for "natural" mineral waters.

The sources of the Vittel, Contrex, and Hepar brands are in eastern France.

The DGS said that, following new checks, some water sources in the east and south of France have been closed or reclassified as "water made drinkable using treatment".

"Before these closures, these catchments were treated fraudulently by the operator," said the French health agency.

The investigation has shaken France's entire water sector.

Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of French food company Danone, said at the company's annual shareholder meeting on Thursday that its natural mineral water sources now faced "extremely strict" monitoring.

Shareholders had raised questions about the measures being taken by Danone, whose mineral water brands include Evian, Volvic, and Badoit.

Saint-Affrique said the company works closely with local farmers and industry to prevent contamination near its water sources.

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