China probes use of formaldehyde to keep cabbages fresh

Chinese authorities have launched an investigation after reports emerged that formaldehyde was being used to keep cabbages fresh for market. Officials in Hebei province confirmed they had verified video showing individuals submerging cabbages in a solution before loading the vegetables onto trucks for transport. The footage was first posted online by a biology blogger last week. Formaldehyde, a colourless chemical classified as a carcinogen, is banned for use in food preservation in China. China ranks as the world’s top cabbage producer, with the majority of its output shipped to neighbouring Asian markets. Police have taken legal action against those implicated, according to state media. In response, officials are conducting spot checks at markets nationwide to avert public concern and restore confidence in the vegetable supply chain. Authorities said investigators will also determine the extent of the practice and implement measures to trace any affected produce. A statement issued on Saturday by the Kangbao county government read: “Any illegal or non‑compliant practices discovered will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law to guarantee the safety of the vegetable supply.” Beijing’s Xinfadi market, a major source of fresh produce for the capital, released its own notice saying it had traced the origin of its cabbages and found none of the contaminated vegetables had entered its premises. The episode has attracted extensive coverage across Chinese media. An editorial in the People’s Daily condemned the actors involved: “The wholesalers focused solely on their immediate economic interests while wholly disregarding the lives and health of consumers. [They] crossed a legal red line and breached the moral bottom line.” China produces more than 30 million tons of cabbages annually, roughly half of the global yearly total. Vietnam, South Korea and Russia rank among the leading importers of the vegetable. According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde in certain workplaces has been linked to several cancer types in humans, while the health impact of low‑level exposure remains uncertain.