Chinese authorities, according to reports, have launched a nationwide food-safety investigation after a video showed cabbage wholesalers in Hebei Province treating cabbage roots with formaldehyde to keep the vegetables fresh during transport.
The incident was reported in Kangbao County, where officials confirmed that the liquid used on the cabbage contained formaldehyde. The chemical is banned from use in food in China and is classified as a human carcinogen.
Authorities, including the State Council's Food Safety Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, have ordered local investigations and nationwide checks of perishable vegetables.
Major wholesale markets, including Beijing's Xinfadi market, have also begun tracing vegetable supplies. The market said no affected cabbage had entered its facilities.
Officials are now investigating the supply chain and those responsible for the illegal treatment.