Singapore and South Korea are increasing inspections of Chinese cabbage after reports that a supplier used formaldehyde to extend the vegetables’ shelf life. The move follows wider regional concern over a food safety scandal in which Chinese cabbage is said to be dipped in formaldehyde.
South Korean authorities broaden port-of-entry checks and expand testing for formaldehyde and other potentially harmful substances in imported food ingredients from China, including ingredients used for kimchi. One outlet also reports that Seoul’s leadership visits a public health institute to observe laboratory testing of samples collected for screening.
Singapore’s food safety response mirrors these steps, with agencies stepping up cabbage testing in light of the same reports and South Korea’s prior decision to intensify checks. Overall, outlets describe a coordinated tightening of controls focused on verifying the presence of formaldehyde and related safety risks in imported Chinese produce while sampling and analysis are carried out.
