Millions of Perrier bottles blocked in south of France over bacteria concerns

Summary

Millions of Perrier bottles were blocked from distribution in southern France due to safety concerns linked to bacteria detected at the Vergèze production site. Authorities and Nestlé Waters have taken measures including product withdrawals and investigations into water sources and filtration processes. The situation has raised questions about water resource quality and production safeguards for Perrier.

Background

Perrier is produced at the Vergèze plant in the Gard department, southern France. Investigations and health authorities have flagged sanitary quality concerns in the plant’s catchment sources, prompting production considerations and safety reviews.
In several reports, the issue centers on contamination risks including fecal-origin bacteria detected in water sources used for bottling Perrier, triggering regulatory scrutiny and action by Nestlé Waters.

Key Developments

French health authorities have scrutinized Perrier production, with discussions about stopping or restricting operations at the Vergèze site as a precaution while investigations continue.
Nestlé Waters has communicated about detected contaminations in some bottles and ongoing assessments of the plant’s water sources, with decisions pending on future production at Vergèze.

Impacts

Large-scale bottle withdrawals or blockages have affected distributions and consumer supply for Perrier products linked to the Vergèze site.
The event has spurred broader reporting on Perrier’s water resources, filtration approaches, and the robustness of sanitary controls at the production site.

Reactions

Regulators and the parent company have emphasized safety and corrective actions, including potential plant closures or operational adjustments as investigations proceed.
Media coverage highlights the ongoing tension between maintaining product availability and ensuring strict hygiene standards for mineral water.

Author’s note

This synthesis preserves the original reporting while condensing developments and implications for Perrier’s Vergèze site and supply integrity.

Авторское резюме: Компании и власти действуют оперативно для обеспечения безопасности Perrier, что привело к временным блокировкам и усилению проверки источников воды и фильтрации на Vergèze.

The Connexion — 2025-12-07