Aldi tap that’s in 12,000 households contaminates water with up to 15 times the allowable lead limit

UPDATE: ALDI has finally responded after tests on water run through a tap it sold found up to 15 times the maximum allowable level of lead.

EXCLUSIVE

TESTS on water run through a cheap Aldi tap from China have found up to 15 times the maximum allowable level of lead.

The estimated 12,000 households that bought an Easy Home spiral spring mixer are now being warned against using it for drinking or cooking.

“There is a cause for concern,” said Brett Bassett, head of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, which identified the threat and commissioned the testing.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission also cautioned against using the $79.99 tap and said it had begun an investigation.

“If there is a risk that consumer goods may cause injury the ACCC expects suppliers and manufacturers to put voluntary recalls in place to protect consumers,” a spokesman said.

In a statement sent to News Corp Australia this afternoon, an Aldi spokeswoman said:

“The Spiral Spring Mixer Tap, on sale as a Special Buy on 10 June 2017, was independently tested and confirmed to comply with Australian standards prior to going on sale.

“Aldi is liaising with the responsible Authorities and our Supplier to investigate the matter with utmost urgency. If at any stage test results confirm that chemical parameters do not meet regulatory requirements, ALDI will take appropriate action.

“Aldi will always remove any product from sale if it is identified as a risk to our customers. If any customer is unsatisfied with a product purchased at ALDI, they are welcome to return it to the store for a full refund.”

The supermarket chain has decided against voluntarily recalling the item.

The Aldi tap found to put lead into water. Picture: Supplied

About 3000 of the suspect Aldi mixers were sold in Queensland and another 9000 in the rest of Australia.

“That’s 12,000 homes that have been installed. How many people live in those homes? How many people could be at risk of lead contamination? This is huge,” said Master Plumbers Australia national secretary Penny Cornah.

The number sold in other states and territories is unknown. The spread of stores, as seen below, may give some indication.

The breakdown of Aldi's 478 Australian stories. Source: Aldi website

The results of the QBCC tests are all the more surprising because the tap came in well below permitted levels when certified against the Australian standard. Melbourne’s IAPMO R & T Oceana cleared the tap, which came in at 9.5 times under the lead limit.

“Everything we have on file indicates the product fully complies. It looks 100 per cent kosher,” IAPMO technical adviser Glenn Tate said yesterday.

The tests for the QBCC were done by Queensland Health’s Forensic and Scientific Services unit using a single tap. Further testing will be done, including by breaking a tap to find out how much lead is in the brass parts.

Australian Building Codes Board record showing the tap was certified. Picture: ABCB website

New Scientist magazine last year reported brass fittings in Australian household taps commonly contain 2 to 4 per cent lead compared to a 0.25 per cent limit in the US.

The Aldi taps were made by Zhejiang Keen Faucet Co, based about 300km south of Shanghai. Its company motto is “survive on high quality, seek development with prestige, mutual benefit and coexistence”.

According to Australian health authorities, lead interferes with production of the protein in blood that transports oxygen. This can cause shortness of breath during physical activity. Very high levels of lead can be fatal.

A spokeswoman for Aldi’s public relations agency said it couldn’t answer any questions.

Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said new laws introduced to state parliament aimed to increase responsibility for products across the supply chain to protect consumer safety. He called on the Federal Government to do more to stop “nonconforming products entering the country”.

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Originally published as Aldi tap that’s in 12,000 households contaminates water with up to 15 times the allowable lead limit