Consumption. Nestlé Mineral Water: UFC-Que Choisir Files Complaint Against Several Ministers

UFC-Que Choisir announced on Tuesday that it is launching several legal actions in response to what it describes as a Nestlé mineral water "scandal" and the "inaction" of public authorities , via a summary summons and two complaints, including one against several ministers.

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 of the executive branch, is fully analyzed," explains UFC-Que Choisir.

The association said it has also filed a criminal complaint against Nestlé Waters for "acts likely to constitute deceptive commercial practices, aggravated falsification and aggravated deception."

In early 2024, press articles revealed the use in previous years of prohibited treatments (ultraviolet, activated carbon) at Nestlé Waters bottling sites to, according to the subsidiary of the Swiss group which brings together the Vittel, Perrier and Contrex brands, "ensure the health safety" of the water.

However, natural mineral water cannot be subject to any disinfection or treatment that could modify 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 found that these treatments were the subject of "concealment by the State" .

UFC-Que Choisir also claims to have brought an action before the Nanterre judicial court via an hourly summary procedure, an accelerated procedure which allows someone to be summoned to appear within a very short period of time, in order to obtain interim measures "to withdraw products from the market and recall them", "to prohibit marketing" and "to stop the deception concerning these Perrier waters presented as "natural minerals"".

"The hearing is scheduled for early July," the association said.