In a report last month, a mainland Chinese blogger exposed the use of formaldehyde in cabbage production. Now, another case has come to light in Guangdong where unscrupulous businesses are using sulfur to smoke bamboo shoots. Local authorities have confirmed the situation and are taking steps to address it. This revelation has led to widespread concern among netizens questioning the effectiveness of government regulation, seen as the root cause of rampant illicit activities in the food industry.
On September 18, blogger “Fish and Hunt Brother” posted a video documenting his and his partners’ secret tracking of unscrupulous businesses using sulfur to smoke bamboo shoots in Qingyuan, Guangdong.
The video shows the blogger and his partners following a truck loaded with fresh bamboo shoots into a secluded mountain forest. To avoid alerting the suspects, the blogger noted the location and returned the next day at 5 a.m. to gather evidence.
Upon arrival the following day, the group confirmed through drone footage that the bamboo shoot production site was in a secluded and enclosed mountain forest. They stealthily infiltrated the production site from the rear of the forest and discovered many trees and plants killed by the sulfur smoke.
With smoke filling the air, the blogger found it difficult to breathe. Upon closer inspection, they found piles of items covered with oil cloths on the ground with exhaust vents emitting smoke.
The blogger cautioned his partners to approach the items slowly, and they discovered white bags labeled with “sulfur” on the ground.
Subsequent footage showed the businesses packaging the smoked bamboo shoots and loading them onto trucks for transportation.
Through online shopping, the blogger obtained a bag of freshly packaged bamboo shoots. Wearing rubber gloves, he opened the bag, revealing two layers of tightly tied black plastic bags inside. The blogger explained that this was to allow sulfur to penetrate the bamboo shoots. Upon opening the bag, a strong and offensive smell overwhelmed everyone present, prompting the blogger to step away in shock, exclaiming, “Oh my goodness!”
Taking out two bamboo shoots from the bag, the blogger remarked on the extremely pungent smell, indicating that the bamboo shoots were inedible due to excessive levels of sulfur dioxide, tested and confirmed to be dozens or even hundreds of times above the standard.
The blogger and his team continued to track the trucks transporting the poisoned bamboo shoots while reporting the matter to local authorities.
According to mainland media “Tide News” on September 18, bloggers such as “Fish and Hunt Brother,” “Xiangzibaby,” and “Zheng Ge Lai Kan” released related expose videos, revealing that in Qingyuan City, Guangdong, some trucks first purchase fresh bamboo shoots in Yingde and then transport them to mountain ditches in Jinxing Village, Yuantan Town, Qingcheng District of Qingyuan City, and Xianjing Village, Jintan Town, Qingxin District for smoking with sulfur.
On September 18, the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Qingyuan City, Guangdong, issued a notice stating that after on-site verification, the illegal use of sulfur to smoke bamboo shoots was confirmed at individual sites. The involved sites have been sealed, and authorities are urgently tracking the distribution of these toxic bamboo shoots, conducting comprehensive inspections throughout the city.
According to “Tide News,” officials from the…