‘Tainted’ water recalled

On the World Water Day, consumers in Dubai were in a tizzy over the safety of a leading company’s bottled mineral water after BlackBerry messages said its 500ml bottle contained high levels of bromate that causes cancer. The Ministry of Environment and Water said in a statement on Thursday evening that it was coordinating with all municipalities to ensure that bottled water products contaminated with high levels of bromate are recalled from the market. An earlier statement issued by the Dubai Municipality on state news agency Wam said that the level of bromate found in the sample in question was very close to the maximum limit allowed as per the Gulf specifications. However, it said the sample did not include carcinogenic substances that pose any direct threat to the health of consumers. The ministry said it would ensure that the UAE markets are free from these products until companies producing them prove their compliance with specifications and introduce products that conform to the specifications for the levels of bromate. As per the specifications, the level of bromate should not exceed 10 microgram sper litre (mg/l) or parts per million (ppm). It is learnt that tests found 11ppm in the sample in question. The ministry assured the public that a slightly excessive amount of bromate in drinking water does not pose a threat to human health. The Dubai Municipality’s statement said “the bottled water package in question was not like others manufactured by the same plant that met the endorsed specifications”. It said “the municipality has taken a precautionary measure by informing the water plant in charge to take corrective measures to avoid recurrence of the error”. The civic body added that the competent authority in the emirate, where the factory of the bottled water in question exists, was informed and the Ministry of Environment and Water was also informed to order lab tests be done in other emirates. A spokesperson from Masafi said in a statement that Masafi endorsed the statement of the Dubai Municipality. “We reassure that Masafi bottled mineral water is safe for consumption and does not pose any health risks. At Masafi, our commitment to the highest quality of our products remains our top priority for our consumers and their well-being. Our products are manufactured and packaged according to strict quality requirements,” he added.