Alert issued over 'sacred' water

Consumers are advised to destroy or return the bottled water

Water said to be from a sacred Muslim well and found on sale in a Gloucester shop could be hazardous, say trading standards officers.

The bottled Zam Zam water was found to contain a high level of arsenic.

Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards Service said the shop was the only known supplier in Gloucester.

The water is usually drawn from a well in Mecca. It cannot be sold from its source in Saudi Arabia, or legally imported into this country.

Analyses showed the bottled water from Gloucester contained two-and-a-half times the acceptable levels of arsenic.

Gloucestershire Trading Standards said the higher levels could contribute to an increased risk of cancer and therefore did not comply with UK food regulations.

Roger Marles, head of the service recommended people return the water or destroy it.

"We are liaising with the Food Standards Agency and other trading standards services throughout the UK in an attempt to identify the supplier of this water," he said.

"At present we are not aware of any other Gloucestershire outlets known to be stocking it.

"I would like to make it clear that this advice does not relate to genuine Zam Zam water being brought into the UK by returning pilgrims."