It will soon no longer be possible to sell Perrier as "natural mineral water".

That's according to French Senator Alexandre Uzil, rapporteur for a Senate committee investigating the bottled water scandal involving the Nestlé group.

A confidential report by the Occitanie Regional Health Agency (ARS), revealed in December, referred to a "viral risk" at the brand's Perrier factory in Verges in the Garre region, owned by Nestlé. Pathogenic bacteria were found in the bottles.

Nestlé illegally treats its natural mineral water using carbon and UV filters, a Le Monde investigation revealed months ago. Since then, the committee investigating the brand scandal has been hard at work.

I don't think there will be an end to Perrier sold as drinking water, but there may be an end to the product sold under the misleading name of "natural mineral water," said Sen.

"This practice is also unfair to competitors who have established processes to ensure that their mineral water remains natural," the senator said. During a hearing before the Senate inquiry committee on 9 April, Nestlé chief executive Laurent Freisch announced that hydrogeologists appointed by the French government had given an "unfavourable opinion" on the continued use of the Perrier springs. Nestlé plans to launch an internal audit to uncover the group's practices.

Last year, Perrier launched a new brand: 'Maison Perrier'. This new brand offers four ranges of carbonated beverages that no longer carry the "natural mineral water" designation. The beverages are produced at the Verges plant. | BGNES