Dyed Lettuce Controversy Erupts in China... Authorities Checking for Imports to Korea

[Anchor]

Following the recent controversy over Chinese napa cabbage contaminated with formaldehyde, a Group 1 carcinogen, a new controversy has erupted in China over dyed lettuce. Stem lettuce, commonly known as gungchae, was found to have been treated with colorings banned for use in fresh vegetables. Authorities are currently verifying whether these products were imported into South Korea.

Reporting by Kim Young-a.

[Reporter]

This is a vegetable processing facility in Gansu Province, China.

Workers dip vegetables into plastic drums filled with liquid and take them out.

It is stem lettuce, also known as gungchae, which is used in side dishes and various culinary recipes in South Korea as well.

[Blogger who exposed 'dyed lettuce': It has been confirmed that a vegetable dyeing base exists in Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province. The use of an unidentified liquid was captured in more than half of the 13 vegetable warehouses.]

The Chinese blogger who posted the video on social media revealed that tests conducted on the solution used at the workplace identified it as a "compound colorant."

The exposure showed that green coloring was applied to the lettuce to make it appear fresher.

As the controversy grew, authorities in Gansu Province launched inspections and caught six companies producing dyed lettuce out of 53 vegetable businesses in the region.

The colorants used by these companies are permitted as additives in certain foods such as beverages, but are strictly prohibited for use in fresh vegetables.

The volume of "dyed lettuce" confiscated from the six companies totals 80 tons.

Authorities stated that all the products seized at the scene have been discarded.

Chinese authorities have booked the six companies and are investigating the exact distribution routes of the dyed lettuce.

The South Korean Embassy in China has requested verification from Chinese authorities to determine whether this dyed lettuce was exported to Korea.

(Video Editing: Park Choon-bae)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.