Perrier was recalled in 1990 after benzene contamination was discovered in bottles of the French mineral water.
The contamination resulted from a failure in the purification process involving activated carbon filters. Trace benzene entered some water supplies, and the company withdrew bottles from markets in several countries as a precaution. Benzene is a chemical associated with serious health risks, so even a low-level finding triggered an unusually broad response.
The incident affected Perrier’s reputation and became a prominent example of how a production-system error can undermine confidence in a globally recognized beverage brand. Perrier later changed its filtration procedures and quality-control practices.
The recall is often misremembered as a problem with the spring itself. The documented issue concerned benzene introduced during processing, not a naturally contaminated mineral source. Perrier remains a major sparkling-water brand and is owned by Nestlé.