Nestle offices searched by police over mineral water allegations
Nestle has been under investigation by a Paris judicial court since February for using unauthorised filters in the production of its bottled mineral waters.
"We continue to cooperate fully with the authorities as we have always done," a spokesperson said on Thursday after reports emerged.
The search was being carried out by the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), according to Radio France.
The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The probe was triggered by allegations by non-profit Foodwatch that Nestle Waters was using illegal filtration systems for its water to mask contamination by bacteria and pesticides.
Nestle Waters produces the Perrier and Contrex brands.
Nestle Waters France said in February that microfiltration had been used for years in the industry to ensure the safety of natural mineral waters while preserving their mineral composition.
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Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I heard my mother's murderer smash into her home on the Ring doorbell before beating her to death
The daughter of a woman who was brutally murdered in her own bedroom has described how he tore her family apart. The moment killer Dean Mears forced his way into the home of vulnerable Catherine Flynn was caught on a Ring doorbell camera – and witnessed by her horrified daughter. Natasha Flynn-Farrell, 38, could only watch helplessly from her own home as Mears, 34, kicked in the front door and smashed the window of her mother's home in north Wales last October. She then had to listen as he rained blows down on her frail 69-year-old mother. Harrowing audio captured the appalling sound of 15 thuds as the scaffolder dragged Catherine, who had mobility issues and used a Zimmer frame, out of bed and stamped repeatedly on her face and neck. By the time relatives had raised the alarm and police had rushed to the scene, he had already fled, leaving Mrs Flynn with injuries a pathologist likened to those seen in high impact crashes. Meanwhile, callous Mears was disposing of his bloodstained clothes in a doomed bid to cover his tracks. Mother-of-four Catherine, from Rhyl, died in hospital hours later. Mears, a drug user who claimed he was too high to know what he was doing, was jailed for 28 years in June. Mother of one Natasha told the Daily Mail: 'Mum was our matriarch, we called her our Queenie. She adored her children and grandchildren, and she had the biggest heart. 'I will never get over the way she died, so brutally and needlessly. He targeted a vulnerable old lady, in her own bed, and beat her until she could take no more. No punishment will ever be enough. 'I am struggling with my grief and severe PTSD, and I miss mum so much. I cannot bear to hear a Ring doorbell because it reminds me of her murder.' Catherine, known as Cathy, raised three daughters and a son with her husband, Mick. The family, originally from Liverpool, moved to Rhyl when Natasha was 13. Natasha said: 'We had a great childhood, and we had a wonderful mum. She was a feeder; she liked to make a big Sunday roast and have everyone round. 'She taught me how to cook too. Every penny she has was for her children. Just before she died, she'd paid for driving lessons for my daughter. 'Our last outing together, four days before her murder, was to book Christmas dinner at a restaurant for us all. We'd never been out for Christmas dinner before, and we were excited. 'Mum loved Christmas, and she loved her garden; she liked anything which brought her family together. Following her death, locals paid tribute to Catherine Flynn, with one saying: 'She was the nicest lady you could ever meet, would do anything for anyone, a true queen with a heart of gold' 'She was there to support me when my first daughter, Latitia, was sadly still born in 2004. 'Two years later, she cut the cord when my second daughter, Natalia, was born. Mum was always there for us all.' In 2011, Mick passed away and Cathy's own health began to deteriorate. She was diagnosed with COPD, emphysema, arthritis and a leaking heart valve. Natasha said: 'Her health was bad, and she was so tiny, she was like a little doll. But her character was strong. 'I used to say she was made of solid gold. She needed a walking frame and a wheelchair to go any distance, but she still liked to go out and do her shopping and see people, and she was great company. 'She liked watching the soaps and she liked pottering in her garden. Above all, she liked to see her family. 'Due to her health, she moved to a smaller property, around a five-minute drive from me, and I saw her every day. If she wasn't well, I stayed over in her spare room. I even moved in with her for a while after she'd been in hospital. 'I made her meals, using the recipes she'd passed down to me, and took her for all her appointments. We were best pals as well as mum and daughter 'I had access to her Ring Doorbell stream but that was just for peace of mind because Mum had fallen a couple of times. Never did we think she might be burgled or attacked. 'Her home was lovely, she'd never had any trouble, she had a stair-lift and a walk-in shower, and a beautiful little garden. She was by the sea, and it felt like the perfect place for her retirement.' In October last year, the family planned a meal out and decided to book their first Christmas dinner away from home. Four days later, Cathy was murdered. Natasha said: 'It was a Thursday, which was takeaway night. My husband had called round earlier in the evening with Mum's takeaway and to check she was OK. 'Mum always rang me around 10.30pm to let me know she was safe in bed. I picked my phone up ready for her call and noticed a notification from Ring doorbell. I clicked on it, knowing Mum would not have a visitor this late.' To her horror, Natasha saw a man smashing the door and window before forcing his way into the house. She heard a series of thuds and bangs as her mother pleaded to be spared. She said: 'The attack lasted less than a minute, but I was hysterical. I was trying to use the microphone, screaming at him to leave her alone. 'I called 999 and they made me wait for the police to arrive before I drove round to Mum's. I was in such a state, I just wanted to see her, but they wouldn't let me in. I'd convinced myself she'd somehow escaped injury, that he had smashed the place up and stolen whatever he wanted.' But Cathy was rushed to hospital, and her devastated family were warned she had suffered catastrophic head injuries. The following day, they made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw life support. Natasha said: 'Mum was so swollen, all the bones in her face were broken so when I kissed her, she felt like jelly. She never regained consciousness. I held her hand and we all said a prayer and I told her: 'Don't worry Mum. Dad is waiting for you.' My whole world shattered when she took her last breath.' Thanks to the doorbell footage, Dean Mears, a local drug addict, was quickly arrested. Natasha said: 'We'd never heard of him. He didn't know my Mum at all. He claimed to be so high he had no idea why he had targeted her home and attacked her. 'The months after Mum's death were a blur. We held her funeral, but we couldn't say a proper goodbye because the police had retained tissue samples as part of their investigation. 'Christmas came, and I forced myself to go out for the dinner we'd booked, because I knew Mum would want me to be strong. But all I could think of was the empty place where she should have been. 'Natalia passed her driving test, which Mum would have loved as she'd paid for the lessons. But it was bittersweet. We couldn't celebrate anything without our Queenie. 'I had severe PTSD and flashbacks; I couldn't bear to watch TV in case there was a doorbell ringing. I felt guilty, as though I could have somehow saved her. I was overwhelmed with grief. 'I had a lot of help and I'm still having support from the police and specialist family liaison officers. But the pain never goes away.' At Caernarfon Crown Court in June, a jury was told Dean Mears had dragged Cathy from her bed, stamping on her at least 15 times before leaving her for dead. Remorseless Mears admitted manslaughter but was convicted of murder, following a nine-day trial. Judge Rhys Rowlands jailed Mears for 28 years and told him: 'You dragged her out of bed…stamped on her face 15 times, pretty much breaking every bone in her face. 'She was frail and extremely vulnerable. She was a very small lady. Plainly terrified, Mrs Flynn can be heard to plead with you, but you showed no mercy…you can be heard repeatedly stamping on her face. 'Your adult life has been blighted by you taking illicit drugs…..I'm quite satisfied that this case was a murder for gain. You didn't break into Mrs Flynn's home intending to kill her - as such the murder was not pre-meditated. 'I cannot ignore 15 blows were aimed by you. This was unusual savagery. You are a dangerous individual.' The family have now learned that samples taken from Cathy's body can be returned to them, so they will soon receive her ashes as a whole. Natasha said: 'When we have mum back together, we will hold a big party to celebrate her life, to remember the love and the joy she brought into the world. 'She will always be our Queenie. I'm raising awareness of violence against women and girls too. I'd like to help other families, in mum's name. 'But I won't ever forget or forgive. I am still being supported by specialist officers and FLO workers. And I will be ready, when Mears is up for parole. He is an animal, a monster, and I hope he never walks the streets ever again.' Following the death of Mrs Flynn - known as Cathy - one local said: 'She was the nicest lady you could ever meet, would do anything for anyone, a true queen with a heart of gold.' The judge added: 'Any loss of life is tragic, but your killing of Mrs Flynn that night wasn't only senseless but the circumstances surrounding it can only be viewed as truly horrific. 'You broke in, went up the stairs, passing the chair or stairlift on the stairs she used because she had only limited mobility. 'You dragged her out of bed, demanding repeatedly to know where the keys were, and repeatedly stamped on the victim on her face and neck, causing the most catastrophic of injuries. 'As to exactly why you behaved in that way, only you will know.' But the judge said drugs had ruined Mears' life and now the life of another family. 'I have no doubt the root cause was your long-standing addiction to harmful illicit drugs and association with the dealers at a higher level of these drugs.' Addressing Mrs Flynn's family, who cheered the guilty verdict from the public gallery, the judge added :'I can't for one moment put myself in their shoes. 'What a dreadful experience to have gone through:' He added that not many juries had to listen to somebody being killed. Afterwards Senior Investigating Officer Superintendent Lee Boycott of North Wales Police said: 'On 24th October 2024, Dean Mears broke into Cathy Flynn's home whilst she was sleeping and ferociously and repeatedly stamped on her in a brutal and violent unprovoked attack. 'The injuries Cathy sustained were not survivable and she tragically died the following day in hospital. 'His abhorrent actions that night was witnessed by Cathy's daughter on her doorbell footage, which will undoubtedly stay with her and her family forever. 'Despite Mears showing no remorse for his actions, Cathy's family have remained dignified and respectful throughout the judicial process. 'I commend them for their courage and my thoughts remain with them today. 'I welcome today's verdict and thank the jury, and the investigation team, for their diligent work in securing justice for Cathy's family.'
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Former Miss France accuses celebrity chef ex of violent and controlling behaviour during their relationship where he broke her nose
A former French beauty queen has accused a celebrity chef of domestic violence during their year-long relationship. Alexandra Rosenfeld, who was crowned as Miss France in 2006, broke her silence on Tuesday in an Instagram post in which she spoke about the horrific abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of Jean Imbert. Ms Rosenfeld, 38, said Mr Imbert, a head chef at several high-profile restaurants in Paris, headbutted her and broke her nose while they were in a relationship in 2013. She also said the chef subjected her to 'scorn, belittling [comments], silences [and] words perfectly placed to make me doubt myself'. The former Miss France is among four women who spoke to Elle magazine in April about Mr Imbert's controlling behaviour. The beauty queen was originally quoted by Elle under a false name, but went public this week with a statement on her social media as she shared the results of the scan she had after allegedly being headbutted. According to the report, Ms Rosenfeld suffered a 'traumatism from a direct shock', as well as a broken nose. 'That was not what marked she', she wrote, adding: 'What damaged me was all that was around it. It was slow, insidious, the controlling behaviour. I didn't even know it was called that. I thought the problem was me'. Ms Rosenfeld says her relationship with Mr Imbert ended after he left her for someone else. Mr Imbert, who rose to prominence in 2012 after winning the Top Chef cooking competition, has denied her claims and says he was the victim of her violent behaviour. His team has denied all allegations against him, The Times reports, and said the headbutt occurred during 'a moment of violence to which Jean Imbert was subjected when he was grabbed by the wrist and freed himself. He profoundly regrets the consequences of this for her'. They also denied the claims of controlling behaviour made by the other women interviewed by Elle. Ms Rosenfeld's accusations come as some female French chefs have recently spoken out about what they say is a culture of toxic behaviour and sexism in restaurant kitchens.
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Time to remember Meredith: Lawyer hits out at Amanda Knox after she poses up a storm at premiere of series based on her ex-flatmate's murder
The lawyer for Meredith Kircher's family has slammed Amanda Knox after she posed up a storm and kissed her husband at the premiere of a dramatized mini-series about her ex-flatmates harrowing murder - urging viewers to remember the 21-year-old instead. Amanda and her boyfriend at the time, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted in their first trial of killing Meredith but after another round of flip-flop verdicts, they were ultimately exonerated by Italy's highest court in 2015. The divisive public figure has now executive-produced an eight-part series - 'The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox' - which explores the aftermath of the 21-year-old's student's killing. Commenting on the new show, Francesco Maresca told The Mirror: 'The important thing is that Amanda Knox clearly wants this case to continue. It would be nice and dignified to watch a program or TV show where everything is reconstructed, remembering the life and smile of poor Meredith. 'Instead, once again, we have to witness an attempt to reshuffle the cards, and where the trailer states, 'Amanda fights tirelessly to prove her innocence and regain her freedom'. Once again, the focus is on Knox.' However, her manner in photos from the premier of the show earlier this week were positively jovial, as she and Rafaello smiled alongside their actor counterparts Grace Van Patten and Giuseppe De Domenico. Despite the bleak nature of the show, Amanda sported a floral summer dress accentuated with bow-tie detailing, while her husband Christopher Robinson sported a trendy mesh blouse worn under a light grey suit. Meanwhile Rafaello donned a cheerful cornflower blue blazer and matching slacks for the occasion. Despite the bleak nature of the show, Amanda sported a floral summer dress accentuated with bow-tie detailing, while her husband Christopher Robinson sported a trendy mesh blouse worn under a light grey suit The series, which is executive-produced by both Amanda and feminist campaigner Monica Lewinsky - who has spent years moving on from a sex scandal with then-President Bill Clinton - has drawn mixed reviews - especially due to the lack of active involvement from the victim's family. Despite that, the Guardian 's Lucy Mangan gave it four stars out of five, albeit lambasting an 'often dodgy' script. 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox has its flaws,' she penned. 'The mannered, Wes Anderson-lite openings to each episode sit uneasily with the harrowing hours to which they give way and the script – particularly in those openings – can be dreadful. 'We were just getting to know our young selves in this charmed and ancient city,' says Knox in a voiceover early on. 'And later: 'Does truth actually exist if no one believes it?' At one point, investigator Monica (Roberta Mattei) describes Knox providing 'unsolicited information in crude American spasms'. 'Fortunately, the main parts are held together by an unreservedly brilliant performance by Grace Van Patten as Knox, in English and Italian (halting at first, fluent by the end of Knox's incarceration), the ebullient, naïve, overconfident, shattered young woman caught in so many currents and cross-currents it seems a miracle that she ever made it back to shore.' The Times was more critical, with Carol Midgley writing: 'As you would expect, the drama is very much on Knox's side, presenting her as a co-operative and pleasant young woman caught up in an unending utter nightmare in a foreign country. 'Yes, a bit crass that she kissed and cuddled her boyfriend at the police station, but then who wouldn't want some comfort when their friend had just been found brutally murdered?' Elsewhere, ranking it only two stars out of five, Nick Hilton wrote for the Independent: 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox knew that it was swimming in morally murky waters. 'The series was originally supposed to be called Blue Moon, but transitioned to its rather twee title ahead of release. And that should give some indication about the unusually bubbly tone of this eight-part series. ''Full of hope, curiosity and the naivety of youth, I embarked on my romantic Italian adventure,' Knox informs audiences, like she's setting up an episode of Amanda in Perugia. The series leans heavily on these voiceovers to explain Amanda's quirks (such as providing an impromptu gymnastics display at the police station or wearing a T-shirt to court bearing the slogan 'All you need is love' in all caps). 'The show's visual flourishes – like a juror juggling computer-generated ears to illustrate their exposure to inadmissible evidence – mirror its goofy, confident protagonist. It also makes the tone of the series very distinct from the grim BBC procedurals we're used to in Britain, owing a debt of gratitude to schlocky tastemaker Ryan Murphy (creator of the American Horror Story anthology series). Speaking to the Guardian as filming for the show kicked off last year, Meredith sister explained the victim's family found it 'difficult to understand how the series served any purpose'. 'Meredith will always be remembered for her own fight for life, and yet in her absence, her love and personality continues to shine,' she added. 'We will forever feel this indescribable void but we live by Meredith's standards with dignity.' It comes as Amanda has revealed how Monica became her mentor as she tried to rebuild her life. The two women met at a speaking engagement in 2017, just two years after Italy 's highest court exonerated Amanda and Raffaele in Meredith's murder. Amanda told The Hollywood Reporter how she was nervous and had begged the event organizers to let her speak with Monica in private. The former White House intern obliged, and even made Amanda a pot of tea as she shared some guidance from her years trying to move past her sex scandal with then-President Bill Clinton. 'She had a lot of advice about reclaiming your voice and your narrative,' Amanda said. 'That ended up being a turning point for me.' Years later, Amanda shared her desire to tell her story on screen in an interview with The New York Times - and upon seeing it, Monica jumped on board. Together, the pair wound up assembling a creative team, including This Is Us executive producer K.J. Steinberg and famed producer Warren Littlefield, to create 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox,' a limited series for Hulu. After years of planning, the duo celebrated the premiere of the show on the red carpet Tuesday. Just hours earlier, Amanda released the latest episode of her podcast, Hard Knox, in which she and Monica spoke of the importance of telling the stories of those who survived scandal. Speaking of the decision, Monica noted that she does not often pay attention to a story after it fades from headlines. 'I don't think about "How is this person rebuilding their life?"' she said, her voice cracking as she apparently started to tear up. Amanda served four years in an Italian prison before being cleared of murdering her former student flatmate Meredith Kercher (pictured) in 2007 It was Amanda that had discovered Meredith's bedroom door locked and blood in their bathroom, but after police in Italy noticed her acting odd she became a suspect. Amanda pictured speaking to the media during a brief press conference in front of her parents' home in 2015 But, she said, she thinks it is important to 'understand, as my therapist calls it, the long tale of trauma - and that it's not even just the person, but the collateral damage for people's families.' 'It's not the story of like, being a person and being gutted and then building your life back. 'And having to find yourself again,' Monica said, noting that both of their scandals arose when they were in their 20s. 'You think you know everything, you think you know who you are and it's then ripped away from you,' she reflected. 'It's reconfigured and reflected back to you as a monster that you never saw yourself as, that you actually aren't.' During that time, Amanda said, 'it's hard to remember that you have value as a human.' 'I think it's a better product because I was able to share really personal and intimate things about, you know, my life that wasn't just like a Hollywood gloss over reality,' she added. 'Like it becomes dirtier in a good way because it has all the messy humanity and you have all these scenes that I, you know, remember being in the writer's room being like, "This is an actual thing that has happened" and they were like, "You can't make this stuff up."' But the duo also sought to play on the 'anatomy of bias,' aiming to showcase how events unfold and are perceived through different people's perspectives. 'It's the way we story tell and it's the way we process a story in our own minds that is impacted by everything we're bringing to that moment that has been shaped by bias upon bias upon bias,' Lewinsky said. 'Every interaction that we have with a person is not just a straight interaction,' Knox added. 'It is colored by the context that we all carry. 'All of us are little universes inside of ourselves and we collide with each other,' she said. The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox airs on Hulu, and stars Grace Van Patten in the titular role. Elsewhere, Amanda recently said she believes the spirit of her murdered roommate Meredith Kercher still 'haunts' her. Speaking with People, she however clarified that this is 'not in that bad way that people sort of project on to me'. 'More in this benevolent spirit who is reminding me of the value of life, the privilege it is to live and the privilege it is to fight for your life,' Amanda added. 'Because she fought for hers.' Despite being freed and declared innocent, Amanda told the outlet that she has never been allowed to fully live her life. She added: 'There's always this subtext, like "Look at Amanda living her life while Meredith is dead." 'Any expression of life in my life is seen as an offense to the memory of my friend who got murdered.' She also said that she had panicked when she found out she was pregnant with her first daughter Eureka, 3. 'I did not want the first instance of my daughter's existence into this world [to] be a headline like "Amanda gives birth to know who will never get to have a daughter? Meredith",' she added. It was Amanda that had discovered Meredith's bedroom door locked and blood in their bathroom, but after police in Italy noticed her acting odd she became a suspect. At the time, Amanda put the blame on her boss at a local bar she worked at, Patrick Lumumba, who had a solid alibi, which only increased police suspicions. After an immense investigation and trial, Amanda, who was 20 years old at the time was convicted for the crime in 2009. She was sentenced to 26 years in prison for faking a break-in, defamation, sexual violence, and murder. In January of this year the defamation conviction was upheld by Italy's highest court over her comments about Lumumba. Amanda shared a video of herself weeping after the conviction was upheld, saying it was 'disappointing'. She also added on X: 'I've just been found guilty yet again of a crime I didn't commit'. Her lawyers said she accused Lumumba during a long night of questioning and under pressure from police, who they said fed her false information. The European Court of Human Rights found that t he police deprived her of a lawyer and provided a translator who acted more as a mediator. Rudy Hermann Guede, from the Ivory Coast, was eventually convicted of murder after his DNA was found at the crime scene. Guede was freed in 2021, after serving most of his 16-year sentence. Amanda returned to the US in 2011 after being freed and has established herself as a global campaigner for the wrongly convicted. She has a podcast with her husband, Christopher Robinson, and has a new memoir coming out next week titled, 'Free: My Search for Meaning.'
