A year after revelations by Le Monde and Radio France exposed illegal water treatment practices by Nestlé, new findings claim that the company convinced French authorities to sidestep strict regulations.
The allegations focus on water extraction sites in the Gard and Vosges regions, where Nestlé Waters—responsible for brands like Perrier and Vittel—allegedly used prohibited purification methods, including UV and carbon filtration.
France’s regulations on natural mineral and spring waters allow minimal treatment to preserve their purity.
However, investigative reports now accuse Nestlé of pressuring officials at Matignon (the Prime Minister’s Office) and the Élysée Palace to authorize non-compliant filtration systems despite health ministry objections.
Secret Deal Allegations
According to Linternaute, multiple documents—ministerial notes, emails, and inspection records—suggest that Nestlé engaged in intense lobbying during the early 2020s to protect its operations.
Radio France describes this effort as a "secret deal" aimed at circumventing environmental laws. Nestlé allegedly warned the government that enforcing the regulations could lead to significant job losses in France.
The report highlights interactions between Alexis Kohler, Secretary General of the Élysée and Macron’s chief of staff, and Nestlé executives. However, there is no evidence that Macron himself was directly involved in any negotiations.
Macron Denies Any Connection
In response to the allegations, President Macron firmly denied any wrongdoing. Speaking on Tuesday at the Gustave Roussy Institute, he stated, "I am not aware of these matters. There is no agreement with anyone, no collusion whatsoever."
Despite his denial, the scandal has sparked renewed debate in France over corporate influence on government policy, particularly regarding environmental regulations. Both Radio France and Le Monde have indicated they will continue investigating the case.
