Cancer risk of 'fake' holy water
The Saudi government, which controls the Hijaz and Mecca, has prohibited the commercial export of Zamzam from the kingdom. However, there is a strong commercial demand for Zamzam which resulted in commercial distribution of fake Zamzam along with alleged Zamzan in many countries.
Much of this fake Zamzam is actively unfit for human consumption as it contains high levels of arsenic
Zam Zam is sold as coming from a sacred well in Mecca
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(Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5405348.stm)
Bottled water that claims to come from Mecca has been found to contain high levels of cancer-causing chemicals.
People have been told not to buy Zam Zam water after tests showed three times the permitted level of arsenic.
The water is advertised as coming from the sacred well of Zam Zam in Mecca, which is the most holy city in Islam, and demand increases during Ramadan.
Westminster City Council said the water cannot legally be exported, so any on sale is unlikely to be authentic.
The tests, carried out by the London council last year during the Islamic festival of Ramadan, found Zam Zam also contained twice the legal level of nitrates, which can affect infants.
"If you do see Zam Zam water on sale anywhere please inform your local Environmental Health team," said a Westminster City Council spokesman.
He added: "This advice does not relate to the genuine Zam Zam water being brought into UK by returning pilgrims, as an accompanied or unaccompanied 'personal import'."The following letter was sent out through the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce & Industry mailing list. It appears to be from the Commercial Attache For East & Pacific Regions.
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