Perrier Returning to Shelves After Impurities Forced Recall

Perrier began redistributing its trademark green mineral water bottles to stores around the world today, less than three weeks after a worldwide recall because of chemical impurities.

The bottles, which became a status symbol among health-conscious young professionals in the United States during the 1980s, carry a new label with the words “new production” in an effort to assure customers that the water is completely free of chemical impurities.

Small quantities of benzene were found in some bottles in the United States last month, leading Perrier to announce Feb. 14 that it was withdrawing 160 million bottles from stores around the world.

An investigation revealed the problem had been caused by dirty filters.

“There is no longer any problem with the purity of Perrier,” company President Gustave Leven said today. “Surveillance has been reinforced at all stages of production.”

The water will be available on the East Coast of the United States during the first week of April and on the West Coast on April 22, Perrier said.