Cheap Aldi taps ‘could contain dangerous levels of lead’, claims test

An $80 tap sold in supermarket giant Aldi has been found to contain ‘dangerous levels of lead’, a new test has claimed.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) ordered new tests to be carried out after the Easy Home spiral spring mixer kitchen taps were given the all clear earlier this year.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the results showed the device gives off up to 21 times the maximum allowable amount of lead.

The latest test results, which were released to the newspaper following a Freedom of Information request, show that “the product failed the test”.

More than 12,000 of the taps have been installed across Australia.

This comes after Aldi previously said the tap had passed Australian standards, and now the supermarket chain has hit out at the latest results.

In response, it released its own test results, which were carried out when the alarm was first raised in July – and they show the tap came in under the allowable limits for lead leaching.

A spokesperson told News Corp the QBCC test is “flawed”, saying: “The report (for the QBCC) is missing critical product and manufacturer information required to confirm the identity and origin of the product.”

Read more: Cheap Aldi taps given the all-clear after lead scare

Aldi and the QBCC have now agreed to partner up on a “definitive round of testing” to truly determine if the tap is safe.

A spokesperson for Aldi told Starts at 60: “Despite ALDI’s clear evidence that the taps are safe for use, any claim that suggests otherwise warrants investigation.

“Again, ALDI will commission further tests, this time in partnership with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). We have asked for these tests to be conducted under the watchful eye of the ACCC and NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities). The results of these tests will be definitive and made available as soon as completed.”

They went on: “We understand that the allegations of the tap being unsafe will cause concern for some of our customers. If customers who have purchased the ALDI Spiral Spring Mixer Tap would prefer to return the tap before the test results are known, we will provide a full refund for any returns.”

Worries over the tap’s lead content were first raised in July, and finding them safe at the time, Aldi said in a statement: “ALDI Australia is pleased to confirm that the Spiral Spring Mixer Tap, sold as a Special Buy on 10 June 2017 has passed additional testing against AS/NZS 4020:2005, which is required for the Australian WaterMark certification and is the testing method under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

“The additional test was conducted by a laboratory accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) for this Standard, meaning that the product is safe for use. This result is consistent with previous independent testing, which was conducted prior to sale.”

Have you bought one of these taps? Do you think they should be recalled?