Coverage of Perrier’s Problem Was Overblown

Gerald C. Meyers’ “Perrier’s Crisis Mismanagement,” Feb. 25, unwittingly provided a source of high hilarity that was much needed in the Southern California French colony.

His article is laughable because it covers--with the help of an enormous drawing--an unwarranted space in the Business section. Why so much fuss when much more important news, such as the production of lethal gases by Libya, gained much less publicity?

Could it be envy at Perrier’s excellent promotion in the United States, only second to the arrival of le Beaujolais Nouveau ? Or the fact that Perrier controls so many American bottled water companies? Without the discovery of infinitesimal traces of benzene, who would have known about Perrier’s vast control of the bottled water business?

Most European articles on l’Affaire Perrier agree that Perrier management did an excellent job of human relations. Some even said the $35-million recall would prove to be a good publicity investment and that the company will come out of it smelling like une rose , perhaps what the illustration meant.

JACQUES M. POLETTI

Secretary-Treasurer

Union of French People Abroad