Watch Out For Zam Zam at Ramadan!
Zam Zam water is sacred to Muslims and cannot be legally exported from its source; the Well of Zam Zam in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. For this reason, the presence of small containers of “Zam Zam Water” the United Kingdom has caused many raised eyebrows amongst the food safety community – especially in this time of Ramadan, when demand for the sacred water is at its peak.
The FSA has advised everybody to stay well clear of any Zam Zam water for sale in this country, as the origin of the water is uncertain at best. Given that it cannot be legally brought to the country, the chances are that it is a complete farce – and an unhealthy one at that; tests have indicated that it has almost thrice the safe limit for arsenic and twice the legal level of nitrates!
The FSA has conceded that drinking small amounts of this water occasionally would not pose too great a health risk, but maintains that consumers should contact local authorities if they find any Zam Zam water for sale. A spokesman for Westminster City Council said, “If you do see Zam Zam water on sale anywhere please inform your local Environmental Health team”.
Not so Zam…
