Chinese authorities have opened emergency investigations after it emerged that cabbage was soaked in formaldehyde, a substance linked to cancer, before being shipped to preserve freshness, according to 読売新聞 (Yomiuri Shimbun). Public security agencies have become involved in the probe, and inspections are being carried out in multiple regions.
The practice came to light in China’s Hebei province, where a business operator used formaldehyde on cabbage to maintain its appearance and freshness, 産経ニュース (Sankei Shimbun) reports. The government has since issued instructions for special inspections of the vegetable across the country.
The development has also had repercussions beyond China’s borders. South Korea has tightened import checks on Chinese cabbage following the disclosure, according to テレ朝NEWS (TV Asahi News). The move reflects regional concern over the potential health risks posed by the contaminated produce.
Formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen, and its use in food products is prohibited in many countries. The Yomiuri report did not specify how much cabbage may have been affected or whether any shipments reached overseas markets before the discovery.
The case adds to a pattern of food safety incidents in China, where illegal additives have periodically surfaced in agricultural goods. The current investigation appears to be focused on tracing the distribution chain and determining the scale of the contamination.
What to watch next is whether the inspections expand to other vegetables or regions, and whether South Korea’s heightened scrutiny leads to broader import restrictions on Chinese produce.
