Nestlé water scandal sinks Macron administration into transparency crisis Bottled lies, filtered truth

A corruption scandal has erupted in France after a Senate investigative commission revealed that President Emmanuel Macron’s government concealed decisions surrounding the illegal treatment of mineral water by Nestlé Waters.

The findings, reported by Caliber.Az with reference to the Daily Express, have drawn sharp criticism over a lack of transparency from both the multinational food giant and the French authorities.

According to the Senate report released this week, Nestlé Waters allegedly lobbied the Élysée Palace to secure authorisation for selling its bottled water, branded as natural mineral or spring water, while bypassing strict health and safety regulations. The company reportedly used banned treatment methods to eliminate bacterial and chemical contamination in products sold under popular brands such as Perrier, Contrex, Vittel, and Hépar.

The treatments in question—activated carbon filtration and ultraviolet radiation—are typically permitted only for tap water and are not allowed for water sold as natural mineral water in France and other European Union countries.

The report accuses the Élysée Palace of helping to conceal these illegal practices. “Beyond Nestlé Waters’ lack of transparency, the French government also failed to act transparently,” the document states.

Nestlé reportedly justified its actions by warning the government of potential job losses if it were not allowed to treat the water. The company claimed that bacterial contamination, including from E. coli—which can cause serious illness or even death—threatened to shut down its facilities.

Laurent Burgoa, chairman of the Senate commission, said the investigation found no evidence that the treated water caused harm. However, he added: “Personally, I drank some Perrier… but I didn’t know what I was drinking—that’s the problem.”

French media had already reported on Nestlé’s alleged use of banned treatments last year. To avoid legal proceedings, the company paid a fine. The latest report confirms that Nestlé was approached for comment following its release.

According to the Senate, a “deliberate strategy” of withholding information was in place from the first government meeting on the matter in October 2021. Months later, officials accepted Nestlé’s proposal to switch to microfilters instead of the previously banned methods. In 2024, the Swiss-based company publicly admitted it had been treating mineral waters and agreed to pay a £1.7 million fine (over $2.2 million).

The commission interviewed more than 120 individuals during the investigation, including Nestlé CEO Laurent Freixe and senior executives. One key figure, Alexis Kohler—President Macron’s then-secretary general—refused to appear before the panel, though the report states he had several phone calls and in-person meetings with Nestlé representatives.

The commission ultimately concluded that “the President of the Republic was aware, at least since 2022, that Nestlé had been engaging in fraudulent practices for many years.”

By Tamilla Hasanova