Formaldehyde Found in Chinese Cabbages Sparks Nationwide Panic and Investigation

Chinese authorities confirmed earlier this week that several Napa cabbages from China's largest cabbage producing region had tested positive for traces of the cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde.

The colourless toxin is often used in embalming to slow down decomposition and has now been found in cabbages, reportedly to keep the veggies fresh during transport in warm summer and autumn months.

The use of formaldehyde to keep food fresh is strictly prohibited in China, and officials have launched nationwide market checks for more potentially contaminated vegetables.

But it has already sparked widespread anger and panic across China and in other countries, where China sends many of its cabbages.

So what do we know?

Concerns first raised by a citizen investigator

The allegations of unsafe practices were first raised by a Chinese environmentalist vlogger, Yu Lie Qi Ge, who was documenting the harvesting process in China's largest cabbage producing region, Hebei.

While filming, he saw cabbages being dipped into a clear liquid before they were loaded onto trucks heading to markets in the country's south.

The videos showed bottles labelled with "formaldehyde solution" could be seen on, or near the trucks.

Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and prohibited from use in food services in China.

Yu Lie Qi Ge said he traced the transportation of the cabbages to several markets in China's south, where local authorities then tested the cabbages and found they were laced with formaldehyde.

After the videos were posted online, officials confirmed the authenticity of the videos and that there had been "illegal practice" and launched an immediate investigation.

The Kangbao County Government in Hebei also said it had launched an emergency traceability investigation into the distribution of the cabbages in question.

What has the reaction been?

Yu Lie Qi Ge's video has since gone viral on Chinese social media.

Although the vlogger said the authorities reacted quickly to the situation, the discovery of the unsafe practices has caused widespread panic across the country.

Chinese social media has been flooded with angry and anxious reactions.

"Then what can we eat now?" one user asked.

"I'm shocked. Everyone is afraid of formaldehyde and knows exactly what it would cost. Now they're adding it to the cabbages," the other user wrote.

Others questioned whether the practice was happening with other foods.

Even Chinese state media reacted, with the People's Daily calling the behaviour "vile in nature and extremely absurd".

"The fact that traders are solely focused on immediate economic gain while completely disregarding the lives and health of consumers has crossed the red line of the law and broken the minimum ethical boundaries," state media said.

What action is being taken?

Officials from Hebei are tracing the distribution of the affected cabbages and say police have taken legal "measures" against the individuals involved, though it was unclear what those measures were.

As the incident gained attention, agricultural product wholesale markets in some locations initiated traceability checks on cabbages from Kangbao County and suspended trading at their markets.

The Central Government also launched a nationwide campaign to carry out "spot checks" at markets to test for any contamination and has vowed to punish any law-breakers severely.

But it remains unclear how widespread the practice is, how long it has been happening and how many cabbages have been impacted.

And because China is the world's largest supplier of cabbages, the scandal has rocked other parts of Asia.

One major importer, South Korea, announced it would be tightening its cabbage inspections and stepping up checks of the vegetable from China — although so far none were found to be tainted.

Taiwan's government addressed public alarm by confirming its Chinese cabbages were banned from being imported there.

Another major importer, Vietnam, is yet to issue a formal reaction, although local media has reported on the scandal.

China has a history of food scandals. How does this keep happening?

This is not the first major food scandal in China — in fact it is not even the first scandal involving formaldehyde and cabbage.

In 2012, some transport and sales groups were found to be illegally using formaldehyde to preserve the freshness of the vegetable.

In another case involving fresh produce in 2024, Chinese state media revealed farm workers had been dipping goji berries in an illegal substance to brighten their colour.

In the same year authorities also investigated how fuel tankers had been allowed to carry cooking oil, after also carrying toxic chemicals, without being cleaned in between.

One of China's biggest food scandals in 2008, where a dangerous chemical was added to baby formula, killed six babies and made about 300,000 other infants sick.

The persistence of large-scale dangerous food practices has been a problem for authorities, even as China's President Xi Jinping consistently pledged to tackle food safety issues.

Strategists in the past have commented on China's regulatory loopholes and relatively low penalties as one reason behind the continued scandals.

And some people on Chinese social media have questioned whether authorities have taken enough responsibility for oversight and compliance testing.

One user pointed out, "This is not the first time that there have been formaldehyde cabbages,'" while another added, "The cabbages are just the tip of the iceberg."