As of: February 22, 2024, 10:53 a.m
By: Teresa Toth
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Foodwatch is suing Nestlé and Sources Alma over mineral water contamination.
The manufacturers are suspected of having illegally disinfected spring water.
Bremen – Every person should drink two to three liters of fluid a day.
In Germany, the water quality is usually so good that the water can be drunk directly from the tap.
However, some consumers prefer to buy their water packaged and carbonated.
However, caution is advised with some varieties: the consumer organization Foodwatch warns about contaminated water.
According to Foodwatch, the popular Vittel brand is among those affected by the contamination.
© Manfred Segerer/imago
Contamination of Nestlé water revealed by Nestlé in January: Foodwatch sues
The mineral water comes from the companies Nestlé and Sources Alma.
They deliberately “deceived, ripped off and cheated” consumers, as Ingrid Kragl from the consumer organization Foodwatch France explained in a press release on Wednesday (February 21).
The French newspaper
Le Monde
revealed at the end of January that Nestlé and other mineral water producers were suspected of having disinfected spring water in an unauthorized manner.
Well-known brands such as Perrier and Vittel are affected.
Nestlé admitted that it had used these methods but has since abolished them.
These included, for example, disinfection with activated carbon or UV light.
Nestlé claims that it only wanted to guarantee food safety
These processes are permitted for tap water.
However, they are not permitted for spring and mineral water, which is sold as naturally pure and significantly more expensive.
“The goal has always been to guarantee food safety,” emphasized Nestlé.
The water from the affected brands will no longer be treated.
Not only contaminated water, but also water that has been left standing for too long - especially overnight - can be bad for your health.
Disinfection of drinking water
There are currently five substances approved in Germany that can be used to disinfect drinking water.
These include sodium and calcium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, chlorine and ozone.
UV-C radiation is also able to kill bacteria and viruses in water.
Source: Federal Environment Agency and Federal Office for Radiation Protection
Foodwatch has taken legal action against the two producers.
Consumer advocate Kragl emphasized: “No one is above the law – not even a multinational company like Nestlé.” The charges for violations of EU guidelines were presented in Paris.
Supermarket chains also repeatedly argue with Nestlé over different price expectations - often with the consequence that products are removed from the range.
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The French government is said to have known about Nestlé's contamination for years
Foodwatch also intends to investigate the role of the French state.
According to reports, the government has been aware of the practices since 2021 at the latest.
A commission of inquiry confirmed in 2022 that the illegal disinfection of spring water is widespread.
However, the report was not published.
Foodwatch stated that Paris did not inform the European Commission or member countries about the non-compliance of the products distributed by Nestlé Waters and Sources Alma.
According to its own information, the organization has therefore asked the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, for a statement.
It is currently uncertain whether the products were also available in Germany.
(tt)