PARIS — The French consumer association UFC-Que Choisir has intensified the Nestlé mineral water scandal by filing complaints against several government ministers as well as Nestlé Waters itself, alleging state concealment and deceptive commercial practices.
In a press release issued Tuesday, UFC-Que Choisir announced it has lodged a formal complaint with the Court of Justice of the Republic targeting prominent members of the French government, including Agnès Pannier-Runacher, current Minister for Ecological Transition and former Minister Delegate for Industry.
Other ministers named in the complaint are Roland Lescure (Industry), Aurélien Rousseau (Health), and Agnès Firmin-le-Bodo (Health).
The consumer group seeks a full investigation into “the role of the state,” particularly the executive branch’s involvement, in what has become one of France’s most controversial food safety scandals in recent years.
Alongside the government complaint, UFC-Que Choisir has also filed a criminal complaint against Nestlé Waters, accusing the multinational of “acts likely to constitute deceptive commercial practices, aggravated falsification, and aggravated deception.” The allegations center on the illegal treatment of natural mineral waters, including iconic brands such as Perrier and Vittel.
The scandal emerged publicly following a joint investigation by Le Monde and the Investigation Unit of Radio France, which revealed that illegal water treatment practices had been in place since at least 2020. An employee from a competing company, Sources Alma, first reported the use of unauthorized treatments at Nestlé’s factories.
In January 2024, Nestlé Waters admitted to treating its mineral waters with ultraviolet light and active carbon filters to “guarantee food safety,” a practice forbidden under French law, which prohibits any disinfection or treatment that could alter the natural characteristics of mineral water.
The controversy has severely damaged Perrier’s reputation, leading to a sharp collapse in sales. In September 2024, Nestlé Waters paid a two-million-euro fine to avoid further legal action over the use of illegal water sources and filtering methods. The company maintains that its current filtration complies with government regulations and that its waters remain “pure.”
Legal proceedings against Nestlé Waters and competitor Sources Alma’s brands—including Cristaline, St-Yorre, and Vichy Célestins—are already underway in Paris, following complaints from consumer protection organizations for alleged consumer deception.
The French government itself has come under harsh criticism for allegedly covering up its knowledge of Nestlé’s unlawful actions. Investigative reports by Le Monde and Radio France in February revealed that high-level officials, including the office of former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and the French presidency, allowed Nestlé to continue marketing these waters despite health authorities’ recommendations for a ban as early as 2023.
A six-month Senate inquiry concluded in mid-May that the illegal treatments had been subject to “concealment by the state,” calling the lack of transparency “deliberate” and aimed at protecting commercial interests.
“In addition to Nestlé Waters’ lack of transparency, it is important to highlight the state’s lack of transparency towards local and European authorities and the French public,” the Senate report stated.
The report also pointed to a “deliberate strategy” first discussed at an interministerial meeting on natural mineral waters on October 14, 2021.
UFC-Que Choisir has applied to the Nanterre District Court for an expedited hearing, seeking urgent interim measures including product withdrawals, recalls, marketing bans, and an end to what it calls the “deception surrounding Perrier waters marketed as natural mineral waters.”
The court is scheduled to hear the case in early July, with consumer advocates and government accountability groups closely watching the outcome of the high-profile legal battle.
