Nearly one-third of France’s mineral water brands have been treating their products with methods reserved for tap water, despite legal prohibitions against such practices.
This situation arose to public attention following Nestlé’s acknowledgement of using unauthorized methods, like ultraviolet light and active carbon filters, on well-known brands such as Perrier and Vittel. In line with a directive from the European union, French law requires that mineral water, which is expected to be of inherently superior quality must not undergo disinfection treatments. While the government maintains that these findings have not posed any health risks to consumers, the public remains concerned about the potential implications of such regulation breaches by trusted water brands.
