Household appliances such as soybean milk machines and juice extractors have been made with industrial lubricant rather than lubricant for food, 21cbh.com reported Thursday, citing a staff with Fuchs Petrolub AG (China).

The malpractice is a potential health hazard for customers because industrial lubricant contains carcinogen, a substance linked with causing cancer.

"Manufacturers of soybean milk machines, including Joyoung and Midea, are well aware that the lubricant for production is for industrial use. It is only during product examinations from outside agencies that they purchase lubricant for food", the staff said.

Suppliers are able to use industrial lubricant because there are no specific regulations dictating the type of lubricant required for the production of household appliances. The pressure of price competition and the price gap between industrial lubricant and lubricant for food has also influenced the common use of the industrial substance, said the staff.