Investigation Launched After Viral Video Shows Cabbage Treatment

Chinese authorities have launched an investigation into reports that formaldehyde was used to preserve the freshness of cabbages for human consumption, according to officials in Hebei province. The investigation follows the release of footage, first posted by an environmental blogger, showing individuals dipping cabbages into a solution before loading them onto trucks for transport.

Officials in Hebei confirmed that they had verified the footage. The use of formaldehyde, a colourless chemical used for preserving biological specimens and known to cause cancer, is strictly prohibited in China for keeping food fresh.

The case came to light after an account on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, posted a video filmed at a cabbage field in Kangbao County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, according to The Korea Times. The footage shows workers picking up cabbages and dipping their root ends into a container of liquid before loading them onto a truck. Containers labeled "formaldehyde solution" were seen in the video. A person at the site said in the video that the treatment could keep cabbage fresh for an additional two to three days.

A Chinese environmentalist vlogger, Yu Lie Qi Ge, also documented the harvesting process in Hebei, China's largest cabbage-producing region, according to ABC Australia. While filming, he saw cabbages being dipped into a clear liquid before being loaded onto trucks heading to markets in the south. He said he traced the transportation of the cabbages to several markets in the south, where local authorities tested the cabbages and found them laced with formaldehyde.

Official Response and Nationwide Inspections

The Kangbao County Government said it had launched an emergency traceability investigation into the distribution of the cabbages, according to ABC Australia. The local government said in a statement that the preliminary investigation confirmed the allegations raised in the video were true, calling it "an illegal act committed by a purchaser to maintain the freshness of vegetables during transportation." Public security authorities have taken measures and are continuing to investigate the case, reported The Korea Times.

In a statement issued on Saturday, local authorities in Kangbao county said: "Any illegal or non-compliant practices discovered will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law to ensure the safety of the vegetable supply."

China's State Administration for Market Regulation said Sunday it had instructed local authorities to investigate and swiftly address the use of formaldehyde solution in Kangbao County, according to The Korea Times, citing China's state-run Xinhua News Agency. The administration, together with the Food Safety Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, ordered authorities to trace the distribution routes of the affected cabbage and prevent it from entering the market. Authorities were also instructed to conduct special sampling inspections and market checks nationwide targeting cabbage and other vegetables prone to spoilage.

Police have taken legal action against the individuals involved, according to state media, as reported by the BBC. Officials are carrying out spot checks on markets across the country as they move to prevent panic and restore confidence. Chinese state media says investigators will also establish how widespread the practice is and take measures to trace affected vegetables.

Market Responses and Official Condemnation

Xinfadi market in Beijing, one of the major sources of fresh produce in the capital, issued a statement saying that it had investigated the source of its cabbages, adding that none of the affected vegetables had entered its market, reported the BBC. Authorities in Beijing's Fengtai District also said that Xinfadi Market conducted a comprehensive review of its supply routes and found no cabbage from the affected area had entered, according to The Korea Times.

Zhongcai Vegetable Market in Nanjing has completely banned cabbage from Kangbao County and made formaldehyde testing mandatory for cabbage supplied from other regions, reported The Korea Times.

The incident has generated widespread media attention in China, with an editorial in the People's Daily writing: "The wholesalers focused solely on their immediate economic interests while completely disregarding the lives and health of consumers. [They] crossed a legal red line and breached the moral bottom line."

South Korea Tightens Import Inspections

South Korea has announced it would tighten cabbage inspections and step up checks on Chinese cabbage imports, according to ABC Australia. Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Monday it was working through the Korean Embassy in China to determine whether cabbage involved in the case had been exported to Korea, reported The Korea Times. The ministry said it had strengthened import inspections of Chinese cabbage and planned to take necessary measures if additional information is confirmed. It remains unclear how widely the affected cabbage was distributed within China or whether any was exported overseas, including to South Korea, noted The Korea Times.

Taiwan confirmed its Chinese cabbages were banned from import, while Vietnam had not yet issued a formal reaction, though local media reported on the issue, according to ABC Australia.

Background: China's Cabbage Production and Food Safety Record

China is the world's largest producer of cabbages, most of which are exported to neighbouring countries in Asia, reported the BBC. China produces well over 30 million tonnes of cabbages each year, nearly half of the world's annual total. Vietnam, South Korea and Russia are among the largest export destinations for the vegetable.

Formaldehyde is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, according to The Korea Times. The American Cancer Society says exposure to relatively high quantities of formaldehyde in some workplaces has been linked to some types of cancer in humans, but the effect of exposure to small amounts is less clear.

China has a history of food safety scandals, including a 2008 baby formula scandal that killed six babies and sickened about 300,000 infants, ABC Australia reported. In 2012, transport and sales groups were found illegally using formaldehyde to preserve food freshness. In 2024, Chinese state media revealed farm workers had dipped goji berries in an illegal substance, and authorities investigated fuel tankers carrying cooking oil after also carrying toxic chemicals.

President Xi Jinping has pledged to tackle food safety, according to ABC Australia.