- Aldi’s $79.99 Easy Home spiral spring mixer kitchen tap found to contain lead
- The Chinese-made tap gives off as much as 21 times the maximum limit of lead
- Aldi previously said the tap had passed Australian standards before being sold
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission ordered the new tests
An $80 Chinese-made tap sold at Aldi has been found to contain dangerous levels of lead, new tests reveal.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) ordered new tests on the tap, which found the device gives off as much as 21 times the maximum allowable amount of lead.
More than 12,000 of the Easy Home spiral spring mixer kitchen taps were installed across Australia.
The device, which retails for just $79.99, was first flagged as dangerous by the QBCC in July.
A $79.99 Chinese-made tap sold at Aldi has been found to contain dangerous levels of lead, new tests have revealed
Those who installed the device were warned not to use water run through it for drinking or cooking.
Aldi previously said the tap had passed Australian standards before being sold, but has since been forced to release its test results, the Daily Telegraph reports.
An Aldi spokesperson told News Corp the QBCC test is ‘flawed’.
‘The report (for the QBCC) is missing critical product and manufacturer information required to confirm the identity and origin of the product,’ an Aldi spokesman said.
‘It also lacks information regarding testing protocols.’
However, Aldi and the QBCC have agreed to partner on a ‘definitive round of testing’ to determine the safety of the kitchen tap.
Aldi previously said the tap had passed Australian standards before being sold (stock image)
The device has been found to give off as much as 21 times the maximum allowable amount of lead
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said they expect Aldi to recall the product if the tests return negative results.
‘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 ACCC spokesman said.
Lead can be harmful to people of all ages, but unborn babies, infants and young children under five are at the highest risk.
Exposure to high levels of lead while pregnant can also cause miscarriage or decreased birth weight, and lead can be passed through the bloodstream to babies.
Lead can also be stored long term in bones and teeth, and extremely high levels can even be fatal.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Aldi Australia for comment.