Overview
- UFC-Que Choisir sought a provisional withdrawal and temporary sales ban, arguing Nestlé Waters’ microfiltration makes Perrier ineligible for the protected designation.
- The tribunal rejected the urgent request and allowed continued sales, stating a consumer health risk was not established with the clarity required in référé.
- Prefectural authorisations for exploiting springs remain pending after authorities ordered a shift from 0.2 micron to 0.45 micron filtration.
- Health authorities concluded the former 0.2 micron process altered the water’s microbiome, and Nestlé had previously admitted using prohibited UV and activated charcoal treatments.
- Nestlé maintains its waters are safe, has run in-store and press notices about potential labeling issues per state analyses, and reports core Perrier sales holding steady as industry peers press to safeguard the appellation’s standards.