On August 22, a blogger posted a video saying that in Tunken Town, Kangbao County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, when randomly selected Chinese cabbages were loaded onto a truck, all were found to have been dipped in formaldehyde solution for preservation before loading. In the video, a truck driver who was loading said the cabbage would be shipped to Suqian, Jiangsu. On-site personnel also mentioned that dipping in formaldehyde solution keeps them fresh for 2 to 3 days.
The same day, the Kangbao County People's Government issued a situation report: regarding the 'formaldehyde solution dipping in the cabbage purchasing process' reflected online, the county immediately organized agriculture and rural affairs, market regulation, public security and other departments to conduct on-site verification and investigation. Preliminary verification confirmed the video's claims were true — it was an illegal act by purchasers using formaldehyde for vegetable transport preservation during loading.
At present, public security has taken lawful coercive measures against the relevant personnel and vehicles, and the case is under further investigation. At the same time, an emergency traceability of the involved cabbage's flow has been launched, and a comprehensive, in-depth inspection of the county's vegetable purchasing, transport, and sales links is underway. Any illegal acts found will be seriously punished in accordance with the law to effectively safeguard vegetable supply safety.
Formaldehyde is a substance harmful to the human body and is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization. When the body inhales excessive formaldehyde, its enzymes struggle to process it, causing lesions and raising the risk of cancer and blood diseases. Ingesting large amounts of formaldehyde causes acute poisoning; in severe cases it can lead to abdominal pain, vomiting, coma, kidney damage, or even death. China's Food Safety Law and Agricultural Product Quality Safety Law clearly stipulate that formaldehyde may not be produced, operated, or used as a food-processing aid.
Formaldehyde in vegetables falls into two types: endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous formaldehyde is produced during biological metabolism and occurs naturally in many foods; the amount is tiny and basically harmless to humans. Exogenous formaldehyde arises from improper human use during processing, transport, and sales, and is the main cause of formaldehyde contamination in food. A few lawbreaking vendors spray diluted formaldehyde on vegetable roots to reduce heating and rotting during long-distance transport and to keep the roots white and clean, making them more appealing to buyers.
