Summary of Key Points
The recent "formaldehyde-laden cabbages" incident has drawn widespread attention online: buyers dipped the cabbage roots in a formaldehyde solution to extend its freshness, in violation of regulations. This incident exposes the problem of the misuse of preservatives in the vegetable distribution chain. The underlying issues include a long distribution chain, high losses, regulatory gaps, and the high cost of compliant preservation methods. Relevant authorities have intervened in the investigation and launched a nationwide inspection, simultaneously sounding the alarm for food safety—both comprehensive chain-wide supervision and reducing compliance costs are necessary to strengthen food safety measures.
1. Why are formaldehyde-laden cabbages a problem? Small vendors take risks to save costs
Formaldehyde is a preservative banned by the state, so why is it still used? The key reason is its low cost and effectiveness. The news mentions that in 2012, 2.5 liters of formaldehyde solution could be purchased for 7 yuan in Qingzhou, Shandong, which is a very low cost. Large, formalized production bases would avoid such illegal practices, but small-scale producers or middle wholesalers may resort to this method to cut transportation costs and reduce spoilage (vegetables spoil quickly after harvesting). After all, vegetables are perishable, and if not preserved properly, they may rot before being sold, resulting in losses.
2. The long vegetable distribution chain leads to high losses and creative solutions
Vegetables go through multiple hands before reaching consumers: from individual farmers to local brokers, then to primary and secondary wholesalers, and finally to retailers, involving at least 2-4 stages. This long chain leads to two main problems:
1. Long delivery times and high losses: Vegetables have a high water content and are fragile, resulting in a spoilage rate of 20%-30% (20-30 pounds of vegetables may be lost out of 100 pounds).
2. High distribution costs: The total cost of distribution can account for half or more of the vegetable price. For example, if you buy vegetables for 10 yuan, up to 5 yuan may be spent on transportation and intermediaries.
Why is the chain so long? There are many small farmers in China, and vegetables are distributed widely; intermediaries are needed to consolidate and distribute them to consumers as quickly as possible. However, this long chain also forces vendors to use unconventional, sometimes illegal, methods to minimize losses.
3. Is regulation inadequate? The secondary and tertiary wholesale levels are a regulatory blind spot
Current regulations mainly focus on production bases and large wholesale markets, but smaller, secondary and tertiary wholesalers fall through the cracks. Why? There are numerous, small vendors with limited access to supervision. Experts point out that vegetables at these levels have been in transit for a long time, and vendors need to preserve them to sell them, but there is no oversight, leading to the use of illegal preservatives. The formaldehyde incident occurred at the purchasing and transportation stages, which are part of the intermediate links in the chain.
4. Formaldehyde is not the only issue; other preservatives also exceed safety limits
The formaldehyde-laden cabbages incident is just the tip of the iceberg. Other preservatives are also often used in excess:
- Chlorine dioxide: In February 2026, excessive levels were found in pears at a fruit store in Shenyang; in May 2026, in Cangxi, Sichuan, excessive levels of chlorine dioxide were detected in vegetable products.
- Sulfur dioxide: In the first half of 2026, sulfur dioxide residues were found in vegetables and fruits in at least 17 provinces. While these preservatives may be allowed, excessive amounts can be harmful to health, such as irritating the respiratory system.
5. How to solve the problem? Strict regulation and reduced compliance costs are both needed
To address these issues, a two-pronged approach is required:
1. Comprehensive chain-wide supervision: Departments like the State Council's Food Safety Office are already guiding investigations and tracking the distribution of the affected cabbages, and a nationwide inspection of perishable vegetables is underway. In the future, regulation should extend to the secondary and tertiary wholesale levels to eliminate blind spots.
2. Reducing compliance costs: Formalized preservation methods (such as cold chain transportation and legal preservatives) are often expensive for small vendors. If the cost of legal preservation methods can be reduced (e.g., through government subsidies for cold chain equipment or promotion of cost-effective preservation technologies), vendors will be less likely to use illegal alternatives.
The police have filed charges of "selling toxic and harmful food," and the involved parties may face up to 5 years in prison. However, in the long run, only when compliant preservation methods are more cost-effective than illegal ones will the problem be truly solved.
This incident highlights that food safety is a matter that involves every step of the supply chain. We must ensure strict supervision and also help vendors find legal ways to make a profit, so that everyone can consume safe food.