Probe opened after video shows cabbage dipped in preservative solution in China
Officials in Hebei say video shows cabbage being submerged in a preservative solution; police and market inspectors are checking supply chains.
Chinese authorities have opened an inquiry after footage emerged showing people dipping fresh cabbage into a chemical solution before loading it onto transport trucks, raising alarm about food-safety breaches and possible contamination of produce destined for domestic and foreign markets.
How officials responded
The incident was reported from Hebei province, where local officials said they had video evidence of the practice and that police had taken legal action against those involved. Authorities in the Kangbao district said they were conducting rapid checks across wholesale and retail markets to restore confidence and prevent public panic.
One of Beijing’s largest fresh-produce hubs, the Xinfadi market, issued a statement saying it had investigated the source of its cabbage deliveries and that none of the affected vegetables had entered the market.
Local Kangbao authorities issued a public warning: "With all discovered illegal or non-compliant practices, action will be taken strictly in accordance with the law to ensure the safety of vegetable supply."
A front-page editorial in the People’s Daily accused wholesalers of putting profits ahead of safety: "Wholesale traders focused exclusively on their immediate economic interests, completely disregarding the lives and health of consumers. [They] crossed the legal red line and violated the moral core."
China produces over 30 million tonnes of cabbage each year, which is nearly half of the world's annual cabbage exports. Major destinations for those exports include Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.
Health experts note the risks posed by formaldehyde: "Exposure to relatively large amounts of formaldehyde in some workplaces has been linked to certain types of cancer in people, but the effect of exposure to small amounts is less clear," the American Cancer Society says. Investigators said they will also try to determine how widespread the practice was and will remove any affected vegetables from circulation.
Photo: Profimedia
