A survey showing excessive levels of arsenic in a number of Vietnamese made fish sauce has come under fire for misleading the public.

The consumer advocacy group called Vinastas tested 150 fish sauces on the market for the survey.

They found that close to 70 per cent of the samples contained more arsenic than allowed.

But various health professors have told state news agencies VNExpress and Tuoi Tre News that the survey did not distinguish between organic and inorganic arsenic.

According to the United Nations World Health Organisation, arsenic is highly toxic only in its inorganic form.

Fish and seafood naturally contain organic arsenic.

Vinastas deputy general secretary, Vuong Ngoc Thuan, has since confirmed in a press conference that the arsenic the survey found was in its organic form and that Vietnamese fish sauce was safe.

– TiVi Tuan-san