An inquiry says France's government covered up Nestle's illegal treatment of bottled water
Its report focused on Nestle's years of use of treatments to avoid bacterial or chemical contamination of water labeled as 'natural mineral water' or 'spring water' for brands also including Contrex, Vittel and Hépar. Such treatments are prohibited under French and European regulations.
The report concluded that France's government had concealed 'illegal practices."
'In addition to Nestle Waters' lack of transparency, the French government's lack of transparency must also be highlighted,' it said.
French media reported the banned treatments last year.
Nestle paid a fine to avoid legal action
The report noted a "deliberate strategy" of concealment since the first government meeting on the issue in October 2021. Months later, authorities agreed to a Nestle plan to replace the banned treatments with microfiltering.
Nestle did not immediately respond to a request for comment. France's government did not immediately comment.
Last year, the Swiss company publicly acknowledged having used treatments on mineral waters and agreed to pay a 2 million euro fine ($2.2 million) to avoid legal action.
The inquiry commission interviewed more than 120 people including Nestle's CEO and top managers. One refused to speak to it: Alexis Kohler, then-secretary general of the Elysee presidential palace, who the report said has spoken several times with Nestle executives by phone or in person.
The commission concluded 'that the presidency of the republic had known, at least since 2022, that Nestle had been cheating for years.'
Asked about scandal in February, Macron said he was 'not aware of these things ... There is no collusion with anyone.'
Fraud estimated to be worth over $3 billion
Alexandre Ouizille, the commission's rapporteur, said the total amount of the fraud has been estimated at over 3 billion euros ($3.38 billion) by France's agency in charge of fraud control.
Natural mineral water is sold about 100 to 400 times the price of tap water, he said, denouncing "misleading of consumers."
Ouizille described a Nestle plant in southern France the commission visited where there were 'sliding cabinets behind which illegal treatments were carried out.'
The report said Nestle argued there was a risk of job losses if the government did not authorize some kind of treatment or microfiltration, because its plants would have to close due to spring water being contaminated by bacteria like E. coli that can cause serious illness and death.
Laurent Burgoa, the president of the commission, said there has been no proven harm to the health of people who drank water sold by Nestle.
'Personally, I drank some Perrier ... But I didn't know what I was drinking, that's the problem," Burgoa said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Kicking the Tires on a New Car? Buy It Now, Experts Say
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. If you're thinking about buying a new car, you might want to accelerate your timeline. That $48,000 SUV could cost you as much as $62,000 once 2026 models hit showrooms this fall—depending on where and how it's made. New tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are expected to sharply increase sticker prices on cars built overseas, with ripple effects expected even on domestically produced vehicles. Starting with the 2026 model year that typically debuts in the fall season, automakers are preparing to pass on billions of dollars in new costs to buyers, either directly or indirectly. "Automakers can only rely on existing inventories to deflect tariff costs for so long and shrinking profit margins — much like any other business — are not sustainable," said Diana L. Moss, vice president and director of competition policy at the Progressive Policy Institute, in an interview with Newsweek. Detroit's Big Three are projected to absorb close to 40 percent of total tariff-related costs in 2025, or about $7,000 per vehicle, Moss said. That includes cars assembled in the U.S. with a mix of imported parts. A breakdown of tariff costs across the industry shows how sharply the impact varies: about $4,000 per vehicle for those with high U.S. "content," $6,500 for mixed-content vehicles, $11,000 for cars with heavily European or Asian parts, and $14,000 for models built entirely overseas. "Over the longer term, or until the policy is rolled back, this could change the mix of the U.S. automobile fleet," Moss added. "That could affect everything from U.S. automobile production to automobile technology and environmental impact." Vehicles are offered for sale at a General Motors dealership on July 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Vehicles are offered for sale at a General Motors dealership on July 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo byOnly Bad Options Tariff costs are starting to bite, and automakers are running out of room to absorb them. Warren Browne, former GM executive and head of RFQ Insights, said duties will average $1,700 to $1,900 per vehicle this year and could hit $2,200 by 2026. "That is an enormous number," Browne told Newsweek. "It represents 30 to 40 percent of what GM makes per vehicle in the U.S." At that point, companies will be faced with two options, Browne said, neither of them good. "If they absorb the cost, they hurt shareholder value and future investment. If they raise prices, they lose sales. The question is: who bears the pain—shareholders or employees?" So far, automakers have mostly held the line. July data from Edmunds showed average prices up less than 2 percent year-over-year. That's expected to change in September as 2026 models arrive on dealer lots. "Passing on costs is about when and how," Moss said. "The 2026 model year is the likely window, with new models rolling out at higher prices." This image from April 2, 2025 shows President Donald Trump announces global tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House. This image from April 2, 2025 shows President Donald Trump announces global tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White hikes won't always appear on MSRP stickers. Automakers are already shifting costs by cutting lower trims, bundling features into pricier packages and raising destination fees and loan rates to skirt eye-popping sticker prices. "Destination charges are already up $100 to $200 across the top 39 volume models I track," Browne said. "Base trims are disappearing, and mid-tier models are becoming the new entry level. This is exactly what Japanese automakers did during the voluntary export restraint era." Trump's tariffs also hit critical inputs like steel and aluminum, which are now taxed at 50 percent. Auto parts that once carried a 2.5 percent tariff are up to 25 percent. These spikes ripple through the supply chain but ultimately land with the buyer. "There are many ways to pass on tariff costs," Moss said. Browne expects sticker prices to jump 6.3 percent industrywide with the 2026 model year. "Think October—that's when they'll start making moves," he said. "If you want a car, buy now, before trims vanish and prices rise." Used cars, which already started to see their prices skyrocket during the pandemic, won't escape either. As new vehicles get more expensive, fewer drivers will trade in, tightening supply and pushing used prices higher. Easing Pressure The U.S. and European Union outlined a preliminary trade agreement Thursday that imposes a 15 percent import tax on most EU exports to the United States—but stopped short of confirming when or whether the current 27.5 percent tariff on European cars will actually fall. "With respect to automobiles, the United States and the European Union intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other's standards," the joint statement read. But until the EU enacts legislation on its side of the agreement, no changes to auto tariffs have taken effect. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) cautiously welcomed the announcement. "This confirmation is a positive step that provides greater certainty for our industry," said Sigrid de Vries, ACEA's Director General, in a statement shared with Newsweek. A red Mercedes-Benz C350 4matic AMG luxury sedan. A red Mercedes-Benz C350 4matic AMG luxury sedan. Getty Images "It is now crucial that the Commission proceeds to implement the EU's commitments without delay, mitigating the tariff impact which already has cost automakers millions of euros in duties every day." If implemented, the 15 percent rate would mark a significant drop from President Donald Trump's threat of 30 percent blanket tariffs and would nearly halve the existing 27.5 percent tariff on EU auto imports. But the uncertainty is already impacting automakers. Germany, the EU's largest vehicle exporter to the U.S., has expressed concern about the rising cost burden and lack of clarity around implementation. The country exported about 431,000 vehicles to the U.S. last year, roughly 3 percent of the American auto market, according to S&P Global Mobility. Still, the effect of tariffs is magnified for automakers with high foreign content. U.S. manufacturers, meanwhile, are recalibrating around higher-margin domestic models. Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep and Dodge, is betting on its 2026 Dodge Ram 1500 truck lineup to cushion the blow from escalating costs.
New York Post
4 minutes ago
- New York Post
James Carville says Dems should ‘kick the s— out of' JD Vance over England vacation
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville used some colorful language on Wednesday in describing how his party should go after Vice President JD Vance for taking a vacation to the 'Martha's Vineyard of England.' During the latest episode of his 'Politics War Room' podcast with co-host Al Hunt, Carville blasted Vance both for stumping for the Big, Beautiful Bill and for planning a vacation to Oxfordshire, England, suggesting they were evidence that Vance does not care about working-class Americans. He then urged the Democratic Party to blast him for these blunders. 'Use JD Vance and just kick the s— out of him every chance you get,' he said to the Democratic Party. Hunt began the Vance-bashing by bringing up his recent stop in Georgia to sell Americans on President Donald Trump's $3.3 trillion 'Big, Beautiful Bill' that the president signed into law earlier this summer. Carville encouraged Vance to stump for the legislation, noting the bill's unpopularity, and stated that Democratic lawmakers like Sen. John Ossoff, D-Ga., should welcome the vice president's criticism for not supporting the bill. 3 James Carville flamed Vice President JD Vance over his recent vacation to Oxfordshire, England. Getty Images 'So, memo to John Ossoff, let JD Vance frame the debate. Accept his terms of the debate. As we pointed out, the most unpopular piece of legislation in recent times in this century is the big, bad bill. If they give you a gift, take the gift,' the strategist stated. Stating what he believes Ossoff should say, he continued, 'The vice president came to Georgia, and he's attacking me because I voted against this. Well, guess what? I did. And I would do it again, and again, and again, and again.' 'When you get a gift, take the g—– gift.' 3 U.S. Vice President JD Vance fishes with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House on August 8, 2025 in Sevenoaks, England. Getty Images He then discussed how Vance's vacation to England earlier this month is another soft spot Democratic figures should attack. 'He went on a vacation. Florida resorts are hurting. Las Vegas tourism is down substantially. National Parks – Yellowstone's down 15%,' he said. 'So, okay, he's entitled to a vacation. I'll give him that. Guess where he went? To a place called Oxfordshire in England – which is a tony, wealthy place that rich Londoners go to. Call it the Martha's Vineyard of England. And why we didn't blow this up!' 'You mean, you can't vacation, and your wife and kids, in your own country?' Carville added in outrage. 3 A view of Chevening House in Kent, England, as Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Vice President JD Vance meet inside, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. AP He urged Democrats to seize on both the vacation and the legislation at every opportunity. Hunt chimed in, 'Every Democrat, bring him into your district. You want JD Vance there.' 'Yeah, you want JD. Yeah, yeah, JD f—— Vance – going to Oxfordshire,' Carville replied. The vice president's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Wisconsin court commissioner resigns after dispute over immigration warrant
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin court commissioner has resigned from his job after he asked to see an immigration arrest warrant, the latest conflict between judges and President Donald Trump's administration over the Republican's sweeping immigration crackdown. Peter Navis, who worked as a Walworth County Court Commissioner for four years, resigned from his position last month, county clerk Michelle Jacobs said Thursday. She declined to comment further because it is a personnel matter. The incident that cost Navis his job happened on July 15. It was first reported on Thursday by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The blowup in Navis' courtroom comes after Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was charged in May with obstructing federal officers and attempting to hide a person to avoid arrest. Authorities said Dugan tried to help a man who is in the country illegally evade U.S. immigration agents who wanted to arrest him in her courthouse. Dugan is seeking to have the charges against her dropped, arguing that she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and therefore is immune to prosecution. A ruling on that motion by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman is pending. Navis was presiding in his courtroom that day in the case of Enrrique Onan Zamora Castro, of Milwaukee, who faced a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license for the second time in three years. Navis said in an interview Thursday that about 15 minutes before Castro's case was to be called, a deputy told him that Castro was going to be arrested on behalf of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, on an immigration warrant. 'In my courtroom, a person cannot be detained without lawful authority,' Navis said in the transcript. The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Herrmann, said Navis had no right to see the warrant, according to the transcript. Herrmann did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment. Navis said he spoke with Walworth County Judge Kristine Drettwan for guidance and she told him he had the authority to run his courtroom as he saw fit. Drettwan did not return an email seeking comment. Sometime after Castro was detained, ICE officers appeared with deputies to make a second arrest of someone in the courtroom. Navis said he didn't know who that person was. According to the transcript, Navis said, 'I've been instructed by the judges of this county to require warrants before individuals are detained in my courtroom.' Navis said he met with three of the court's judges six days after the incident and they told him that because he misstated their position he could either resign or be fired. None of the judges in that meeting returned emails seeking comment Thursday. Navis said on Thursday that he misspoke in the courtroom. 'I misstated it, I did," Navis said. "It's not something I had intended to misstate. It's not like I was trying to mislead anyone. What I was trying to express was I had been given the authority to act in my courtroom. That's what I meant to say, but it didn't come out that way.'
