ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Authorities have launched an investigation after formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, was used to preserve cabbage during long-distance transport in Hebei Province.
Officals in Kangbao County, in Zhangjiakou, confirmed the use of formaldehyde solution in the local cabbage purchasing process after suspicions emerged. The discovery came to light after a Chinese blogger published footage from a cabbage purchasing site showing workers applying formaldehyde solution to cabbages before loading them onto trucks.
In the video, workers dipped the root parts of individual cabbages into a basin filled with liquid. A container labeled "formaldehyde solution" sat next to the truck. A site representative said the method could extend the cabbages' freshness by two to three additional days.
Formaldehyde, a colorless chemical with highly irritating properties, is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization. The classification indicates sufficient evidence that the substance causes cancer in humans.
The addition of formaldehyde to food is strictly illegal in China. The country's Food Safety Law prohibits the use of any chemical substances in food products other than those explicitly approved as food additives. Formaldehyde can make vegetables appear abnormally firm and shiny, preventing wilting and rotting for several days.
Local public security authorities have taken legal action against the individuals involved. The vehicles used to transport the treated cabbages have been impounded.
Authorities are conducting further investigations beyond the immediate site. A key priority is tracking the distribution channels for all implicated cabbages across Kangbao County's vegetable procurement, transport and sale process.
County officials said they are investigating whether similar illegal activities have occurred elsewhere in the vegetable supply chain and stated that any confirmed violations will face strict punishment.
The full extent of the distribution of the affected cabbages within China has not been determined. It also remains unclear whether any cabbages treated with formaldehyde were exported to other nations.
