Chinese-made taps sold in Aldi contain 15 times safe lead limit
The public is being warned about Chinese-made taps sold by Aldi after tests found water coming from them contained 15 times the safe level of lead. These toxic taps have been installed in more than 12,000 households in Australia. The discovery was a surprise for Melbourne's water and gas appliance certifier, which had cleared the tap as returning water 9.5 times under the lead limit. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has started its own investigation into the taps. The taps are manufactured by Zhejiang Keen Faucet in Shanghai, which exports to dozens of countries, including Italy and Spain, and uses German manufacturing equipment.

A Chinese-made tap sold at Aldi may be poisoning tens of thousands of Australians after tests found water coming from it contained 15 times the safe level of lead.

The toxic taps, sold for just $79.99, have been installed in more than 12,000 households all over Australia.

People who own the spiral spring mixer tap are being warned not to use water run through it for drinking or cooking.

The toxic mixer tap (pictured, right) was sold at Aldi stores for just $79.99 and is made in China

Aldi (pictured, stock image) is believed to have sold 12,000 of the potentially poisonous taps

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission was responsible for testing the taps, The Courier-Mail reported.

Tests were conducted by Queensland Health's Forensic and Scientific Services unit on a single faucet, and will be followed by more comprehensive testing.

The results came as a surprise to the Melbourne's IAPMO R&T Oceana, which had previously cleared the tap as returning water 9.5 times under the lead limit.

'Everything we have on file indicates the product fully complies. It looks 100 per cent kosher,' IAPMO technical adviser Glenn Tate said.

Water run through the Spiral Spring Mixer Tap (pictured) showed lead levels 15 times the safe limit

Authorities have warned people using the tap not to drink or cook with water from the suspect faucet

But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has begun their own investigation and warned against using the suspect faucet.

'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.

The spiral spring mixer tap is manufactured by a Chinese company called Zhejiang Keen Faucet Co Ltd, located in a small city south of Shanghai.

They claim to export to dozens of countries, including Italy and Spain, and use German manufacturing equipment.

Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni has demanded the federal government do more to prevent 'non-conforming products entering the country'.

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 and Zhejiang Keen Faucet Co Ltd for comment.