Nestlé Faces CHF500,000 Fine for Unauthorized Water Filtering

In a significant regulatory action, Swiss food giant Nestlé has been fined CHF500,000 ($620,000) by the canton of Vaud for illegally using activated carbon filters in its Henniez mineral water production. The unauthorized filtration process, which continued for 14 years from 2008 to 2022, has raised serious questions about compliance with Swiss food safety regulations.

The violation came to light during a routine inspection by the Food Safety and Consumer Protection (OFCO) of the canton of Vaud in May 2020. The investigation revealed that Nestlé Waters had been using activated carbon filters in their production process without proper authorization. The company's subsequent application for an exemption license was unsuccessful, leading to mandatory removal of the filtering system by the end of 2022.

The Vaud public prosecutor's office determined that the unauthorized filtration process violated Article 29 of the Federal Act on Foodstuffs. More critically, the investigation concluded that consumers had been misled by the 'mineral water' designation on the packaging, as the filtration process disqualified the product from this classification. While the fine reflects the severity of the violation, authorities noted that the filtration process itself did not pose health risks to consumers.

Following the discovery, Nestlé Waters demonstrated cooperation with authorities throughout the investigation process. The company complied with the requirement to remove the activated carbon filters by the end of 2022. The final penalty amount took into account both the company's cooperative stance and the fact that the filtration, while unauthorized, did not pose health risks to consumers. This incident has highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance in Switzerland's food and beverage industry.