China Food Safety Questioned Over Formaldehyde-Dipped Cabbages
Authorities ordered nationwide inspections after the video sparked arrests, truck seizures and border checks, as workers said the treatment adds 2 to 3 days of freshness.
- China launched inspections after a Saturday video alleged cabbages were dipped in formaldehyde in Hebei Province; China's State Administration for Market Regulation promised "zero tolerance" for violations.
- South Korea relies on imports from China for cheaper supplies of napa cabbage, an essential ingredient for kimchi, a fermented dish central to the South Korean diet.
- Police are tracing the distribution of treated vegetables and taking legal action, after local authorities confirmed formaldehyde was used during transport.
- South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety strengthened border inspections for Chinese produce, while FDA Northern Center for Regional Administration Deputy Director Tsai Chia-fen confirmed Taiwan prohibits such imports.
- The incident occurs as South Korea prepares for the kimjang season, a UNESCO-listed heritage practice, though similar reports of formaldehyde-treated cabbage have emerged previously despite efforts to ban it.
32 Articles
32 Articles
It has been discovered that Chinese cabbage was being shipped after being soaked in a formaldehyde solution in Hebei Province, northern China. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialized agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), has classified formaldehyde as a carcinogen…
China’s Formaldehyde-Tainted Cabbage Scandal Triggers Concerns Over Kimchi in South Korea
Formaldehyde contamination in foods has returned to the spotlight in China after a recent video went viral showing heads of Napa cabbage being soaked in formaldehyde solution as a preservative before long transit, causing public concerns that extend to nearby countries including South Korea, which imports tons of Chinese kimchi and cabbage every year. In the video, posted on Chinese social media by vlogger “Yuhou Qige,” who was making random ch…
‘Formaldehyde cabbages’ trigger outrage in China
Chinese authorities have ordered nationwide inspections of cabbage after a vlogger posted videos online showing truckloads of the vegetable being dipped in formaldehyde solution to make it appear fresh longer. CNN’s Steven Jiang reports on China’s latest food safety concern.
Hebei Formaldehyde-Treated Cabbage Raises Concerns in South Korea
According to an Aug. 24 report by The Korea Times, cabbage wholesalers in Kangbao County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, China, reportedly dipped cabbage roots in a formaldehyde solution before loading the produce onto trucks to extend its shelf life. The incident has quickly raised food-safety concerns. The South Korean government has also stepped up inspections of […]
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