"Group 1 Carcinogen Used on Napa Cabbage" Sparks Controversy... What About Exports to South Korea?

After it was revealed that formaldehyde, a Group 1 carcinogen, was used to keep napa cabbage fresh in some rural parts of China, the Chinese central government directly ordered a special investigation.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television (CCTV), the State Council's Food Safety Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the State Administration for Market Regulation ordered local authorities to conduct a thorough and prompt investigation into the "formaldehyde napa cabbage" incident in Kangbao County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.

These agencies instructed authorities to trace the distribution routes of the problematic cabbage to block it from entering the market, while ordering severe punishment for any illegal acts found.

They also mandated special sampling inspections and market surveys targeting easily perishable vegetables, such as napa cabbage, across all regions nationwide.

Xinfadi Agricultural Products Wholesale Market, Beijing's largest agricultural wholesale market, has also launched an investigation into its overall agricultural product distribution channels.

The Xinfadi market explained that the investigation confirmed the problematic cabbage has not flowed into the market, adding that all cabbage currently on sale comes with inspection passing reports and supply remains stable.

The formaldehyde napa cabbage incident came to light after a Chinese blogger released a video footage filming a cabbage purchasing site in Kangbao County.

The blogger claimed that workers were applying a formaldehyde solution to the cabbage to maintain its freshness.

The video showed buyers lifting each head of cabbage before loading them onto trucks and dipping their root parts into a basin containing a liquid presumed to be formaldehyde before taking them out.

A site official stated that processing them in this manner can keep the cabbage fresh for two to three days longer, and a container labeled "formaldehyde solution" was reportedly found next to the cargo truck.

As the controversy grew, the Kangbao County government launched an on-site investigation and confirmed that the contents of the video were true.

The Kangbao County government stated, "This was an illegal act committed by buyers to maintain freshness during the transportation of napa cabbage," adding that public security authorities have taken coercive measures against the individuals involved and the vehicles in accordance with the law.

As of yet, it has not been confirmed whether the problematic cabbage was exported overseas, including to South Korea, and the specific distribution range within China has not been identified either.

Formaldehyde is a colorless chemical substance with a strong pungent odor, and its aqueous solution is commonly known as "formalin."

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies formaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen with sufficient evidence of causing cancer in humans.

China also strictly prohibits the production, sale, and use of formaldehyde as a food processing aid through laws such as the Food Safety Law and the Agricultural Product Quality Safety Law.

As there have been previous cases in China where formaldehyde was detected being used to delay the decay of vegetables during long-distance transportation, food safety management issues are once again coming under scrutiny in the wake of this incident.
 
(Photo: Capture from Chinese internet blogger video, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.