Chinese farmers soak goji berries in poison to sell at double the price

Published 2024년 9월 5일

Tridge summary

China Central Television (CCTV) has exposed a food safety scandal in China involving the use of toxic chemicals like sodium metabisulfite and sulfur in the processing of goji berries. Despite these substances being banned for use in the food industry, especially in goji berries, traders and farmers in Jingyuan County and Golmud city have been using them to enhance the berries' color and prolong their shelf life. The practice is widespread, with many believing it increases the fruit's selling price and appeal. However, the consumption of chemically treated goji berries poses health risks. In response, local food safety commissions have launched investigations, highlighting the broader issue of food safety scandals in China, including the recent discovery of unwashed chemical tankers being used for cooking oil transportation. These incidents have chipped away at consumer trust in the country's food safety standards.
Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

If the goji berries are soaked in toxic chemicals and fumigated with sulfur, they will have a beautiful red color and will not be attacked by insects. Recently, China Central Television (CCTV) has released detailed information about the food safety scandal that shook the country this year, involving goji berries sprayed and soaked in banned chemicals. Specifically, in a news report broadcast on September 1, CCTV interviewed goji berry traders and farmers in 14 towns in Jingyuan County, Gansu Province, China. The report also reported on farms in Golmud, a city in Qinghai Province. At least six farmers and traders have publicly described to the camera how farms soak goji berries in sodium metabisulfite, a banned substance in the food industry, and fumigate them with industrial sulfur to preserve them. "The sulfur-smoked fruits are red and beautiful. The sulfur helps the fruit to last longer and prevent pests from developing. The toxicity of this substance is very high," a shop owner ...

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