Nestlé Waters has agreed to a $2.2 million settlement to resolve criminal allegations in France related to its natural mineral water production. The settlement, approved by a judge in Epinal on Tuesday, concludes two separate investigations into illegal drilling practices and misleading claims about the company’s water products.
As part of the agreement, Nestlé Waters Supply Est (NWSE), a division of Nestlé SA, will fund a $1.22 million ecological restoration project to address environmental damage caused by its operations. The company will also pay approximately $552,000 in compensation to several environmental groups, including Foodwatch, which had lodged complaints against the company.
The settlement does not include an admission of guilt by Nestlé Waters. The company stated that its mineral water production did not harm public health and that previous treatment processes did not alter the water’s natural mineral composition. Nestlé also highlighted that all its activities since 2023 are compliant with regulatory standards and government directives.
The settlement has faced criticism from environmental organizations. Ingrid Kragl, a fraud expert at Foodwatch, criticized the agreement as “scandalous,” arguing that it promotes a culture of impunity for corporate misconduct.
The case focused on Nestlé’s water extraction practices and the authenticity of its bottled water claims. Despite the settlement, the company asserts that its operations are now fully compliant, and no health risks were posed to consumers. The agreement ends years of legal scrutiny, but debate over the environmental impact of large-scale bottled water production continues.
