The Seoul city government will conduct a special inspection of about 9,500 cabbage-handling businesses through September. The response comes after reports that cabbages soaked in the Group 1 carcinogen "formaldehyde" were distributed in China. It was found that 5,094 tons of packaged Chinese cabbage kimchi were imported in August.
The Seoul city government said on the 31st that it has formed a joint task force (TF) with the Research Institute of Public Health and Environment, the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation, the Civil Affairs Judicial Police Bureau, and 25 district offices to carry out special inspections of cabbage-handling businesses through Sept. 30.
The special inspection will target about 9,500 kimchi-handling businesses through Sept. 30. The scope includes kimchi manufacturing and processing companies, side dish shops, general restaurants, and traditional markets. Ten kimchi-type food manufacturing and processing businesses will be fully inspected, and 490 side dish shops that are on-site sales and manufacturing/processing businesses will also be inspected. About 6,400 general restaurants that serve cabbage kimchi and 2,600 cabbage-handling retail outlets such as traditional markets will be closely checked for country-of-origin labeling.
The Seoul city government plans to inspect all cabbages sold both online and offline. A first batch of 12 products—eight distributed online and four distributed offline—has been collected and is under inspection.
The special inspection follows confirmation that in Hebei province, China, cabbage was soaked in formaldehyde to maintain freshness before distribution. Formaldehyde is classified as a "Group 1 carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization (WHO).
In response, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety launched an emergency investigation and tested 82 items, including Chinese salted cabbage, with no formaldehyde detected. It was also found that the problematic Chinese cabbage had not entered Garak Market through August this year. It was determined that 5,094 tons of packaged Chinese cabbage kimchi were imported nationwide in August through 65 importers.
Taking public concern into account, the Seoul city government will disclose monthly test results for formaldehyde in Chinese cabbage and kimchi distributed domestically. If any products of concern are identified, it plans to immediately share information with relevant agencies and take follow-up measures such as blocking distribution.
Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor, said, "There can be no complacency of 'this is good enough' when it comes to food safety," adding, "We will closely examine everything from cabbages entering the wholesale market to online and offline distribution products, as well as actual consumer settings such as restaurants and traditional markets, and take strict action as soon as any problems are identified so we can do our utmost to ensure an environment where citizens can consume with confidence, free from food safety anxiety."