France, April 18 -- Perrier may lose its "natural mineral water" label after harmful bacteria was found in bottles at its main bottling site in southern France - which was not reported to health authorities until 10 days after it was discovered.

Intestinal bacteria was detected in 75-centilitre bottles at the Nestle-owned factory in Vergeze, Gard, according to documents seen by the investigative unit of Radio France, which revealed that the contamination was first identified on 11 March.

The company has since shut down a production line and blocked 369 pallets - amounting to around 300,000 bottles.

Hundreds of thousands of 50cl bottles have also been held back after tests showed high levels of revivable germs, which can point to bacter...