China investigates illegal use of formaldehyde in cabbage preservation

Chinese regulators have opened an investigation into reports that producers are employing formaldehyde—a toxic chemical classified as a carcinogen—to preserve cabbages and maintain their freshness during storage and distribution.

The use of formaldehyde as a food preservative is explicitly prohibited under Chinese food safety standards. The chemical, commonly used in industrial applications and embalming, poses significant health risks to consumers even at low exposure levels and has been linked to various cancers with prolonged contact.

As the world's largest producer and consumer of cabbage, China supplies domestic markets with millions of tons of the cruciferous vegetable annually. The discovery of the illegal preservation practice raises concerns about food safety oversight and enforcement across the country's agricultural supply chain.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the scale of the suspected violations or identified specific producers involved in the practice. The investigation underscores ongoing challenges in monitoring food production standards across China's vast agricultural sector, despite strengthened regulations implemented in recent years following several high-profile contamination scandals.

Food safety officials have urged producers to comply with established preservation guidelines and warned of penalties for those found using prohibited chemicals in food products.