Nestlé Mineral Water Scandal: UFC-Que Choisir Takes Legal Action, Accusing Public Authorities of "Inaction"

UFC-Que Choisir is bringing the contaminated water affair that has plagued Nestlé for several months back to the forefront by initiating legal proceedings. On Tuesday, June 3, it announced that it was launching several legal actions in response to what it calls the Nestlé mineral water "scandal" and the "inaction" of the public authorities, via a summary summons and two complaints, including one against several ministers.

In a press release, the consumer association announced that it had filed a complaint with the Court of Justice of the Republic against the current Minister for Ecological Transition and former Minister Delegate for Industry, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, and former ministers Roland Lescure (Industry), Aurélien Rousseau (Health) and Agnès Firmin-le-Bodo (Health), "so that the role of the State, and in particular the executive branch, is fully analyzed," explains UFC-Que Choisir. The association said it had also filed a criminal complaint against Nestlé Waters for "acts likely to constitute deceptive commercial practices, aggravated falsifications and aggravated deception."

In early 2024, press articles revealed the use in previous years of prohibited treatments (ultraviolet rays, activated carbon) at Nestlé Waters bottling sites to, according to the subsidiary of the Swiss group, which includes the Vittel, Perrier, and Contrex brands, "ensure the health safety" of the water. However, natural mineral water cannot be subjected to any disinfection or treatment that could alter its characteristics.

Legal proceedings are already underway in Paris following complaints from consumer protection associations for "deception" targeting Nestlé Waters and its competitor Sources Alma (brands Cristaline, St-Yorre, Vichy Célestins, etc.). In mid-May, a report from a Senate commission of inquiry concluded that these treatments were the subject of "concealment by the State." UFC-Que Choisir also claims to have filed an application with the Nanterre Judicial Court via an hour-by-hour summary procedure, an expedited procedure that allows someone to be summoned to appear within a very short period of time, in order to obtain interim measures "for market withdrawals and product recalls," "a marketing ban," and "an end to the deception concerning these Perrier waters presented as 'natural minerals'." "The hearing is scheduled for early July ," the association's press release states.