Nguyen Cong Khan, head of the Food Safety and Hygiene Department under the ministry, said that it had asked the National Institute for Testing Food Hygiene and Safety to take dozens of samples of disposable food containers from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two biggest markets in Vietnam, for testing starting at the beginning of this week.

Aside from these samples, the department also asked authorities to examine disposable food containers from border gates and local plastics manufacturers. No toxic substances had yet been found in the items, said Khan.

The inspection is the result of information that some Chinese disposable plastic food containers are contaminated with toxic substances and may cause cancer. The containers are also popular in Vietnam.

Professor Hoang Ngoc Cuong from the HCM City Natural Science University said that the main ingredient in disposable plastic food containers is polystyrene, which is proven to be safe.

However, consumers should not heat these food containers because the polymer can melt and become harmful.

Khan said that since 2001, the ministry has regulated all food containers, which are subject to regular examination by authorities. The department has asked local authorities to keep boosting inspections on the containers.