In brief
In recent days China’s food safety authorities have launched a probe into reports that formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, was being applied to cabbages to keep them fresh for export. Footage from Hebei province shows producers dipping vegetables in a chemical solution before dispatching them. While formaldehyde use in food is banned, police have begun legal action and announced nationwide market inspections to restore confidence. The incident underscores growing concerns over food safety practices in the world’s largest cabbage producer.
Authorities in China have launched an investigation into reports of formaldehyde being used to preserve the freshness of cabbages for human consumption. Officials in the northeastern Hebei province have confirmed that evidence shows individuals dipping cabbages into a chemical solution before loading them onto trucks for transportation.
An environmental blogger first released footage that season, indicating that the suspected preservative is formaldehyde – a colourless chemical known to cause cancer. Using it on food is strictly prohibited under Chinese safety regulations.
Police have taken legal action against the individuals involved, according to state media. Officials are rapidly conducting spot checks on markets across the country to prevent panic and restore confidence.
Investigators will seek to determine how widespread the practice is and trace affected vegetables. In Kangbao county, authorities stated that any illegal or non‑compliant practices discovered will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law to ensure the safety of the vegetable supply.
Xinfadi market in Beijing, a major source of fresh produce, claimed that none of the cabbages affected by the reported practice entered its premises.
The incident has attracted widespread media attention. An editorial in the People's Daily criticized wholesalers for prioritizing economic gain over consumer health, branding their actions as crossing a legal and moral line.
China annually produces over 30 million tonnes of cabbages – nearly half the world's supply – with substantial exports to Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.
Exposure to high quantities of formaldehyde in some workplaces has been linked to certain cancers, though the effects of low‑level exposure are less clear, according to the American Cancer Society.
