Singapore has ramped up checks on cabbages following reports of formaldehyde being used on the vegetable in China.
In response to AsiaOne’s queries, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Tuesday (Sept 1) that it is aware of reports regarding the alleged use of formaldehyde on cabbages in China.
The agency is currently monitoring the developments closely and has stepped up surveillance and testing of the vegetable as part of its food safety monitoring programme.
Concerns surrounding potential formaldehyde-tainted cabbages first emerged on Aug 22, after Chinese environmental content creator Yu Lie Qi Ge posted a Douyin video showing workers in Hebei allegedly dipping the vegetables in the preservative before loading them into a truck bound for Jiangsu.
The video quickly drew attention online, prompting local authorities to take action.
On the following day, the State Council’s food safety office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the State Administration for Market Regulation ordered local authorities to investigate the situation in the Hebei county.
The county government confirmed on Aug 22 that the use of formaldehyde for transport preservation shown in the video had occurred, reported China Daily.
Chinese law enforcement has since taken measures against those involved in the incident, while the authorities launched a country-wide inspection of vegetable production, purchasing, transportation and other links.
The incident also prompted scrutiny in South Korea, with the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety testing Chinese cabbage imports as well as products already in circulation.
In updates on Aug 26 and Aug 27, the ministry said no formaldehyde was detected in the imported cabbages, while samples of Chinese-made kimchi and related products being sold tested negative for the preservative.
On Aug 31, the ministry announced that the affected cabbages had not been exported to South Korea.
Why the fuss?
Formaldehyde is a colourless, strong-smelling chemical widely used for its preservative properties in areas such as making building materials and household products including glues and adhesives, as well as pressed-wood products.
It has been identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as “carcinogenic to humans”.
In 2024, Singapore authorities reviewed the use of the chemical in furniture and adhesives, following reports of people falling ill from high levels of formaldehyde in their furnishings.
From January, the National Environment Agency (NEA) requires paints sold in Singapore intended for application on interior surfaces of buildings not to contain the substance.
This is in line with ongoing efforts to safeguard public health, it said in a statement in 2024.
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carol.ong@asiaone.com
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