Zero instances of formaldehyde were found in 82 test samples of Chinese-grown napa cabbage and kimchi distributed across South Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on September 30, following an overseas food safety controversy that sparked public anxiety. That zero-detection result covers 50 kimchi products, 29 fresh cabbage samples, and 3 salted cabbage samples collected from every Chinese manufacturer and packaging company whose goods are currently sold in South Korea, according to en.sedaily.com and news.sbs.co.kr.
August Inspection Campaign in Seoul and Hebei Province Investigation
The safety checks began in August after reports and video footage emerged showing cabbage sellers in Zhangjiakou City’s Kangbao County, Hebei Province, China, applying a formaldehyde solution to prevent spoilage during transport, chosun.com reported. Formaldehyde is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In response to the circulating footage, the Kangbao County government opened an investigation, confirmed the illegal use of the chemical by a produce buyer, took legal action against those involved, and traced distribution routes. To address growing domestic worry, the Seoul Metropolitan Government initiated targeted inspections across local markets and manufacturing facilities.
During its local oversight, the Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment tested 13 cases of Chinese cabbages and 48 cases of kimchi circulating in the capital, detecting no formaldehyde. Tar pigments and other harmful substances were also absent in 6 cases of Chinese mustard greens and 24 cases of processed mustard green products. Tests on 192 imported agricultural and fishery products checked for residual pesticides, heavy metals, and radioactivity showed no abnormalities.
Customs-Stage Screening and HACCP Verification
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety tightened customs-stage testing starting August 24, immediately examining incoming shipments declared for import and finding no formaldehyde in initial batches, en.sedaily.com reported. Through the Korea Institute for Food Safety Management Accreditation office in China, regulators surveyed the cabbage suppliers used by 55 HACCP-certified Chinese companies that export kimchi to South Korea. The investigation confirmed that none of those manufacturers sourced cabbages grown in Kangbao County, Hebei Province. Since October 2024, kimchi imports into South Korea have been restricted exclusively to products manufactured by HACCP-certified facilities.
Origin Labeling and Hygiene Crackdown in Seoul Establishments
Since August 27, municipal authorities in Seoul have inspected the origin labeling and hygiene management of approximately 9,500 general restaurants, traditional markets, and kimchi manufacturing businesses, chosun.com reported. By September 23, inspectors visited 6,365 locations and cited six traditional market vendors for failing to display origin information properly, prompting district offices to issue administrative penalties including fines. Meanwhile, hygiene management and origin labeling at 563 food manufacturing and processing facilities handling kimchi met all regulatory standards.
Cho Young-chang, Director of Citizen Health for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated that authorities will swiftly conclude the remaining inspections of kimchi-handling businesses by mid-October and immediately target newly identified overseas hazardous foods for screening, chosun.com reported. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated that it will continue to promptly verify information regarding imported foods posing potential safety risks and conduct necessary laboratory testing, building on historical scrutiny that follows earlier controversies involving parasite eggs in 2005, E. coli in 2013, and the 2021 “naked kimchi” video.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Chinese Kimchi Formaldehyde Tests
Why did South Korean authorities test Chinese kimchi for formaldehyde?
Testing began after a Chinese blogger posted a video on August 22 showing workers in Kangbao County, Hebei Province, dipping cabbage roots into a formaldehyde solution before loading transport trucks, prompting concerns because formaldehyde is a WHO Group 1 carcinogen, en.sedaily.com reported.
How many total samples did the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety analyze?
The Ministry collected and tested 82 items of Chinese-made cabbage kimchi, fresh cabbage, and salted cabbage, comprising 50 kimchi products, 29 cabbage samples, and 3 salted cabbage samples, according to news.sbs.co.kr.
Did any of the imported kimchi come from the region where formaldehyde was used?
No, an investigation into the cabbage-sourcing regions of 55 HACCP-certified Chinese manufacturers exporting to South Korea revealed that none of their cabbage was cultivated in Kangbao County, Hebei Province, news.sbs.co.kr reported.
What penalties did Seoul inspectors issue during market checks?
Out of 6,365 locations inspected in Seoul by September 23, six traditional market vendors were cited for failing to display origin information, resulting in administrative penalties and fines imposed by competent district offices, chosun.com reported.
Worth a look