Nestlé and the French government are facing backlash after a recent French Senate investigation uncovered that Perrier’s “natural” mineral water has been filtered and sterilized for years—practices that directly contradict the strict European regulations for labeling water as “natural.” The New York Times reported that not only did Nestlé fail to disclose its treatment processes, but it also allegedly colluded with French officials to keep the deception under wraps.

The Senate’s findings accuse Nestlé Waters of illegally altering water from wells in Vergèze, southern France, and profiting from mislabelling, generating an estimated €3 billion. Investigators even found hidden areas in the Perrier plant used for the illicit treatments. In response, Nestlé claimed it had always prioritised food safety and that its products remain safe to drink, but did not deny the allegations outright.

Consumer advocates like Foodwatch France call it a textbook case of regulatory failure. And many are now asking: is “natural mineral water” even possible in a world plagued by environmental degradation? According to climate scientist Peter Gleick, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find groundwater uncontaminated by pollution, flooding, or agricultural chemicals.