The Nanterre court rejected the action filed by the consumer association UFC-Que Choisir against Perrier, the Nestlé group's historic carbonated mineral water brand. The association requested the recall of the bottles and a change to the label, challenging the use of the term "natural mineral water" despite the microfiltration processes introduced in recent years.
According to the plaintiffs, these technical treatments would have compromised the water's original state, making it inappropriate to use the term "natural," as required by the mineral water legislation. The court, however, found neither a serious risk to public health nor a violation justifying emergency measures such as withdrawal from the market.
For Nestlé, this is a significant decision: the contested wording is a central element of Perrier's positioning, a brand synonymous with the premium mineral water segment. The company reiterated that the product's safety has never been questioned and that the microfiltration process used does not alter the water's mineral profile.
The case, however, comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny. In recent years, several mineral water producers in France have come under scrutiny for using filters and treatments that do not comply with the regulatory framework. The Vergèze site, where Perrier is produced, had also been the subject of requests for compliance with its filtering systems.
While the ruling allows the brand to breathe a sigh of relief, the case nevertheless highlights the fragile reputation of an industry where the promise of "naturalness" is a commercial pillar. Consumers, increasingly concerned about transparency, view any deviation from traditional processes as a potential betrayal of the trust placed in historic brands.
For Perrier, therefore, the verdict represents a legal victory but also a call for caution: consistency between communication, labeling, and industrial practices will be increasingly crucial in a market that demands authenticity, clarity, and high standards. Nestlé, for its part, remains committed to maintaining the brand's competitiveness and reliability within a regulatory framework that promises to become even more stringent.
