Earth Science News
WATER WORLD
France health watchdog seeks clampdown at Nestle water sites
France health watchdog seeks clampdown at Nestle water sites
By Hugo RUAUD
Paris (AFP) April 4, 2024

France's food safety watchdog has recommended stricter monitoring of sites where the Nestle food giant extracts mineral water after traces of "fecal" contamination were found, according to a report seen by AFP on Thursday.

The recommendation, made to the health ministry last year, comes on top of an investigation by prosecutors into allegations that Nestle used illegal treatment to purify its mineral waters.

Nestle is a major player in the international bottled water market with brands including Perrier, Vittel and Contrex. It insisted that all of its products are safe.

In the report seen by AFP, the ANSES government food safety agency called for the "establishment of a strengthened monitoring plan to allow for trustworthy microbiology and chemical measures" at the water extraction sites.

The note said two regional health agencies had recorded "multiple findings of microbiological contamination of fecal origin" at the water sources, which made "reinforced surveillance" necessary.

ANSES confirmed to AFP that it had been approached by two regional health agencies "to determine conditions for a strengthened monitoring" of water production and that it had sent recommendations to the health ministry in October last year.

But it added that other elements in the report, including the name of the company involved, would remain secret and the whole report would not be released.

Sophie Dubois, managing director of Nestle Waters France, said the ANSES report had not been "brought to my attention".

She insisted that "all natural mineral water put on the market in France under the Hepar, Contrex, Vittel or Perrier brands can be consumed in all safety".

Hepar, Contrex and Vittel are bottled in the Vosges region of eastern France while Perrier is produced in Vergeze in the south.

"There is no question about food safety," the company official added.

Dubois did say that there was a possible presence of "residual traces" of pesticides in water, but "very significantly lower than permitted levels for mineral waters".

The CGT union at Nestle Waters has demanded that the management give an explanation.

"The trust is not there. They must stop the marketing and recall the bottles," the Foodwatch consumer pressure group said.

The French health ministry did not immediately respond to an AFP question about the report.

Regulations on quality for mineral waters are stricter than for tap water in France.

A 2007 decree said that at the source and during the sale, "water must be free of germs indicative of fecal contamination, parasites and pathogenic microorganisms".

apz-hrc/tw/b

Nestle

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
Financial crisis at UK's biggest water supplier worsens
London (AFP) Mar 28, 2024
Debt-plagued Thames Water revealed Thursday that it failed to raise a major cash injection from shareholders, blaming industry regulations that made its rescue plan "uninvestable". Britain's biggest water supplier said in a statement that GBP500 million ($630-million) of new equity will "not be provided by Thames Water's shareholders" this month. The company added it was in "ongoing" talks with industry regulator Ofwat over a plan that is "affordable for customers, deliverable and financeable for ... read more

WATER WORLD
Spanish NGO halts Gaza aid work over deadly attack

Russian drone strike kills Ukrainian first responders working at scene of earlier attack

Helicopter plucks miners to safety as Taiwan searches for missing after quake

Netanyahu response to aid worker deaths 'insufficient': Spain PM

WATER WORLD
On-surface synthesis of carbyne: An sp-hybridized linear carbon allotrope

Mynaric Accelerates Space Communication with CONDOR Mk3 Production

NASA collects 'space debris' that crashed into Florida man's home

A first-ever complete map for elastic strain engineering

WATER WORLD
Water level in Russia's Orsk 'critical' as Kremlin warns of more floods

Parent company of UK's biggest water supplier defaults on debt

Russia evacuates almost 4,500 people after dam burst

Ocean depths harbor millions of tonnes of plastic pollution

WATER WORLD
Climate shifts could spawn savanna in high latitudes and elevations

Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf Moves Daily Due to Ice Stream Activity

Revealing shifts in Earth's mightiest ocean current over millions of years

Polar Ice Continues Downward Spiral with Record Lows in Antarctic and Arctic Regions

WATER WORLD
Pakistan facing 30 percent water shortage for sowing season

82% of EU farm subsidies bolster high emissions foods: study

Antarctic expedition uncovers century-old milk powder

How agrivoltaics and controlled environments shape farming's future

WATER WORLD
Nine dead, over 1,000 injured in Taiwan's strongest quake in decades

'Like a mountain collapsed': Taiwan reels from biggest quake in 25 years

Tsunami threat 'largely passed' after Taiwan quake

Major Taiwan earthquake triggers tsunami warnings across region

WATER WORLD
HRW calls for UN probe into Ethiopian army killings

Smuggled Starlink dishes throw lifeline to some in war-torn Sudan

More than 80 parties, NGOs demand Mali election: statement

DR Congo soldiers risk death penalty for 'cowardice'

WATER WORLD
Activists slam new Hong Kong ID card policy for trans people

Paleolithic sites near water sources key to understanding early human hunting practices

No 'human era' in Earth's geological history, scientists say

Enhancing AI Truth Detection: A New Approach Against Economic Deceit

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.