MFDS Clarifies No Raw Bamboo Shoots Imported from China Amid Sulfur Fumigation Reports

Following reports that sulfur-fumigated bamboo shoots were produced in China, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that no Chinese bamboo shoots have been imported.

Addressing the reports today on September 20, the ministry explained, "Chinese bamboo shoots have not been imported into the country in the form of agricultural products."

However, some processed Chinese bamboo shoot products, such as canned goods, are being imported.

The ministry has been conducting sulfur dioxide tests on processed foods during customs clearance precision inspections, and has additionally decided to implement manufacturer-by-manufacturer testing for processed bamboo shoot products for a certain period.

Previously, local Chinese media and other outlets reported that formaldehyde, a Group 1 carcinogen, was used on Chinese cabbages in some regions of China, and that food coloring was used on stem lettuce (gongchae), causing a stir.

In response, the ministry strengthened inspections at the customs clearance stage and confirmed through the South Korean Embassy in China that the problematic cabbages and stem lettuce were not distributed domestically.

(Photo: Provided by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.