Nestlé faces the challenge of saving the Perrier business amid scandal

The outlook is getting increasingly bleak for Perrier , the famous natural mineral water brand from the giant Nestlé. Embroiled for months in a scandal surrounding the operating conditions and quality of its Vergèze spring in the Gard department, the group has just received a new blow. This Wednesday, the Gard prefecture ordered Nestlé to "withdraw" within two months its microfiltration system (at 0.2 microns) installed in its local Perrier bottling plant. Otherwise, the brand will no longer be able to claim its status as a mineral water producer.

The state representative will not issue his final opinion on the continued exploitation of the spring until August 7. But with this injunction, he is following the advice of the group of hydrogeologists who, a few weeks ago, gave an "unfavorable" opinion on the continued exploitation of the Vergèze wells as natural mineral water. This calls into question Perrier's production. "This decision is responsible and wise