Overview

• The French Senate published a report on May 19 uncovering that top state institutions were alerted to and concealed Nestlé Waters' unauthorized filtration methods.
• Nestlé used illegal 0.2-micron microfiltration systems to purify contaminated mineral water, violating EU regulations that mandate a minimum 0.8-micron threshold.
• Despite these violations, French authorities allowed the sale of the filtered water, with the Senate accusing the government of yielding to corporate lobbying.
• The scandal, initially a public health concern, has escalated into a political crisis implicating the highest levels of the French state.
• President Emmanuel Macron denies involvement, but calls are mounting for stricter enforcement of EU water standards and legal action against Nestlé executives.