The Vergèze plant produced 1.3 billion units in 2023. M.A.
A document revealed this Monday, December 16 by Le Monde and Radio France highlights the contamination of the water resources of the Perrier plant in Vergèze. The authorities are even inviting the Nestlé group to “stop its production of natural mineral water”. A first.
Will the Gard prefect have to sign the death warrant of the iconic Perrier natural mineral water? ? He will be called upon to rule, “during the first half of 2025″, on the request for renewal of the operating permit for the Vergèze spring, filed in October 2023 by Nestlé. However, an audit by the Occitanie Regional Health Agency, revealed this Monday by our colleagues at Radio France and Le Monde, reports serious threats to the sparkling water drunk around the world.
This is certainly only an interim report, as Nestlé Water defends to Midi Libre, but the words chosen by the health authorities reflect a worrying situation. The document points to a potential “virological risk for consumers” and envisages for the first time “a halt to the production of natural mineral water at the Vergèze site” . The ARS even suggests to Nestlé, the Swiss multinational that owns the brand, to “strategically question” another possible food use for its catchments, “under conditions that would provide health and safety guarantees, which will prove essential”.
At the request of the prefect
These are very worrying conclusions for the Gard site, which produced 1.3 billion units (cans or bottles) in 2023 and employs more than a thousand people. According to Radio France and Le Monde, this report follows an inspection of the Perrier factory on May 30, requested by the Gard prefect Jérôme Bonet after the first revelations, five months earlier, of the use of purification treatments banned on the Hépar, Vittel, Contrex and Perrier brands. In his mission letter, he asked to verify “the proper dismantling of prohibited treatments” as well as “the traceability and manufacturing practices of the products”.
However, according to the ARS, if some of these unauthorized treatments were indeed removed, the risk of fraud would persist. The inspectors emphasize in fact that “the conditions in which the inspection was carried out did not make it possible to ensure that there were no other unauthorized treatment devices hidden in the factory”.In addition, the quality controls carried out by the Nestlé group present microbiological results “unusual for a natural mineral water”, with a “instability of the water”, and the presence of micro-organisms in the raw water, which the regulations on natural mineral waters strictly prohibit.
“Unacceptable for a natural mineral water”.
A few weeks before the inspection, Perrier had had to shut down one of the factory's wells, following an episode of contamination by faecal germs, which could cause illness, which led to the destruction of three million bottles. A cleaning operation carried out on two other wells, at the same time, revealed a new episode of contamination by this type of germ, “bacterial contamination, punctual”, but “unacceptable for a natural mineral water”.
To remedy these problems, Perrier seems to have reinforced its microfiltration treatment system, but this, again according to the ARS report, would only mask the contamination of raw water and would not prevent “a possible virological risk” for consumers. Data that the Borne government is said to have been aware of, authorizing Nestlé to use non-compliant microfilters.
From natural mineral water to flavored water ?
Contacted to comment on this information, the Gard prefecture returned “for the time being”on the ARS Occitanie, which did not respond to our requests. It remains to be seen whether what appears to be a health scandal could threaten the Perrier factory, while there is also talk of consideration at Nestlé to dismantle its mineral water subsidiary, and therefore sell Perrier ? The ARS, in its report, notes that “on a technical level, nothing prevents the treatment of natural mineral water by unauthorized processes used for other types of water“. In other words, Perrier could also redirect its production towards drinking waters with a designation other than that of natural mineral water, like its new “Maison Perrier” range launched in 2024, i.e. thirteen flavors of flavored sparkling water, from two of the seven wells at the Vergèze site. As if Nestlé had anticipated the ARS report…
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“No panic”
Not all elected officials in the area have been rushing to react to these new revelations about Perrier. “We must be cautious, this is partial information, even if I do not question its authenticity”, comments Philippe Gras, mayor of Codognan and president of the Rhony Vistre Vidourle community of communes. He specifies: “This is obviously a serious subject that concerns the elected representatives of the territory, given the importance of Perrier, the number of jobs concerned and the financial resources generated by the brand. I would not want over-mediatization to complicate the task of those who must find a solution“, he says, calling for “not to panic”.
Philippe Gras assures that he is in regular contact with the site director Philippe Fehrenbach. “A frank and constructive dialogue” . He was one of the local elected officials who were recently invited to visit the site, following the first revelations . “That day, but also when we talk with Perrier representatives, I don't have the impression that they are trying to hide or conceal from us any subject” , assures the president of Rhony Vistre Vidourle. However, he accepted “without hesitation” his community's support for the parliamentary commission of inquiry into bottled water launched last week. “There is a need for serenity in this matter, and a look with a little hindsight will in any case contribute to finding the right solutions. Local elected officials will do everything in their power to achieve this”, concludes Philippe Gras. Who adds: “the stakes are crucial“. Starting with the 1,000 direct jobs linked to the Perrier factory.
Gard Senator Laurent Burgoa: “Rule on standards”
THE INTERVIEW. You chair the parliamentary inquiry committee on bottled water, which began its work on December 10. How do you react to these new revelations ?
I can't react immediately. As part of this commission of inquiry, we will receive the management of Nestlé, the ARS Occitanie, the successive prefects of Gard… It is after these hearings that we will form our opinion.
But this new development reinforces the interest of your work.
This will give our commission of inquiry a little more media coverage. However, we will work in a senatorial manner, that is to say slowly but surely, in the general interest. This is an important power of control, since we will hear all the professionals in the sector, and they cannot refuse it, unless they expose themselves to criminal prosecution. Since the commission of inquiry also concerns the responsibilities of the public authorities in the failures to control the activities of these companies, we will meet the competent departments but also the prefects and all the ministers who have had to deal with these subjects, from afar or from close up. There is work to be done, since in recent years, for example, no fewer than eight Ministers of Health have succeeded one another. All these people will take an oath, so there will be strong words.
Do you also intend to hear the ministers suspected by a senator of having authorized the use of filters against the advice of health authorities ?
If you are thinking of Ms. Pannier-Runacher (then Minister of Industry, Editor's note), yes, she will be among the ministers heard.
What are the issues at stake for this committee? investigation ?
Above all, it is to make, at the end of our work on May 20, 2025, recommendations that would make it possible, in the future, to avoid all this. And, why not, to propose to the State, regardless of the government then in power, to decide on standards in this area. I think that we will see more clearly when we have progressed in the hearings. For the moment, we have opened our work in a general manner with initial hearings of historians or hydrogeologists to better set the framework. We also plan to visit the various sites.
You chair the inquiry committee, but in your role as a local elected official, are you concerned about maintaining employment at Perrier ?
It is a very important company and, indeed, the local elected official is always concerned about maintaining employment. This is all the more true in this area where the unemployment rate is higher than the national average. A relocation of Perrier would be very bad news.
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