Some soya milk sold on the streets in Ho Chi Minh City was found to be infected with the E.coli bacterium, Ho Chi Minh City Science and Technology Department announced on April 18.

A soya milk stall sold in the street may pose health risks.

The soya milk samples were collected from street vendors, restaurants and home producers in Ho Chi Minh City.

Bacillus cereus, which is killed at 100 degrees Celsius, could still be found in soya milk sold on the streets, with some having more than 900 times the maximum limit. The numbers of Coliform bacterium, in some cases, was 30,000 times higher than acceptable.

Many people buy unbranded soya milk at street stalls. It is a popular staple that may contain some nasty surprises. The soy milk used for breakfast from favorite vendors may not be the healthy start to the day many expect, a nutritional expert said.

It is cheap, protein rich, vitamin packed and is a popular drink for Vietnamese people.

Many elderly, office workers and children stop by street stalls to have a glass of soy milk every morning.

Unbranded soya milk, however, has not been tested in accordance with food hygiene and safety practices and may pose a health risk, including food poisoning, according to local health experts.

Most home soy milk producers are unaware that moldy beans pose a threat of food
poisoning, a nutritional expert said.

To get rid of the moldy smell, flavors and additives are commonly added, which, if
overused, can cause cancer or other diseases, the expert said.

No one controls the quality of the soy milk sold on the street, Dao Thi Yen Phi, lecturer of Ho Chi Minh City-based Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University said.

Apart from a few inspections, health officials and relevant agencies only
approach to the problem are media warnings against unbranded soy milk.