On August 23, 2026, Hong Kong media outlet Hong Kong 01 reported that an illegal act of soaking Napa cabbage in a carcinogenic formaldehyde solution during long-distance transportation was discovered in a production area in Hebei Province, China, prompting relevant authorities to launch an emergency investigation and distribution tracking.

According to the article, the problem came to light on the 22nd of this month when a local video streamer published an exposé video on social media. The video recorded workers directly dipping the cut ends of large quantities of harvested Napa cabbage into containers filled with a chemical solution when loading them onto transport trucks in a Napa cabbage field in Kangbao County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province.

The workers on site explained that by performing this treatment, the freshness of the Napa cabbage could be maintained for 2 to 3 days, and these Napa cabbages were reportedly planned to be shipped to a wholesale market in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province.

According to the article, in response to the exposé, the Kangbao County People's Government immediately conducted an investigation and confirmed that the content of the video was factual and that a vegetable purchasing agent had used illegal chemical agents to maintain freshness during long-distance transportation. County authorities revealed that they have already cooperated with the police, are taking compulsory measures to detain those involved and the transport vehicles, and are advancing investigations into the detailed circumstances of the incident.

Furthermore, taking the situation seriously, the General Office of the State Council Food Safety Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the State Administration for Market Regulation immediately instructed local authorities to conduct investigations and factual confirmations, demanding strict and swift penalties based on the law. They also reportedly ordered inspection agencies in various regions to conduct emergency special spot checks and simultaneous market inspections targeting fresh vegetables.

To prevent the problematic Napa cabbage that was shipped from entering the general market, authorities are also advancing emergency trace investigations of the distribution channels.

The article pointed out that formaldehyde is a chemical substance with toxicity and carcinogenicity, and its use as a food preservative or processing aid is strictly prohibited by law. (Editor/Translator: Kawajiri)