Arsenic warning over holy water

Muslims are being warned to avoid buying bottled holy water amid fears they may contain high levels of arsenic, a council said.

Luton Borough Council is warning people to avoid drinking bottled Zam Zam water of uncertain origin amid health concerns.

The water, sacred to Muslims, comes from a specific source in Saudi Arabia and under Saudi law cannot be legally exported for commercial sale.

The council's environmental health officers said this means any water on commercial sale and labelled as Zam Zam in the UK may not be genuine. They warned Muslims to be careful, especially over the period of Ramadan, to avoid unnecessary health risks.

Tests carried out on the bottled "Zam Zam water" on sale in the UK over the past few years have shown almost three times the legal limit of arsenic.

The Foods Standards Agency said although the occasional drinking of small amounts of water would be a very low risk to health, based on levels found previously it was advising people not to drink any water on sale labelled as Zam Zam water.

The agency said: "If consumers find any water on sale that is labelled as Zam Zam, they should contact the local authority enforcement office at their local council so they can take appropriate action."

Cllr Joan Bailey, portfolio holder for consumer protection at Luton Borough Council, said: "In previous years this product has been on sale in Luton and anyone who has bought the product is being advised to throw it away."

"As we can't trace the origin of this water, it poses a great risk to anyone who consumes it.

"Council officials will still be contacting relevant retailers to make them aware of the issue. If this product is found on the shelves, we will ensure that it is withdrawn from sale immediately."

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