New Food Safety Scandal in China: Fujian Merchants Use Additive 8,000 Times Sweeter Than Sugar on Bayberries

(CNA, Taipei, 21st) Another food safety scandal has emerged in China. Bayberry collection points in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, were recently exposed for illegally using preservatives and abusing non-compliant sweeteners. Zhangzhou authorities reported that they have detained five people, destroyed over 750 kilograms of problematic bayberries and illegal additives, and launched a 45-day rectification campaign. According to reports from mainland Chinese and Hong Kong media such as The Paper and the Hong Kong Economic Times, multiple collection points in the two major bayberry-producing areas of Longhai's Baishui Town and Fugong Town in Zhangzhou were found soaking bayberries in a solution containing the banned preservative Sodium Dehydroacetate and a non-compliant compound sweetener claimed to be 8,000 times sweeter than sucrose. Many wholesalers admitted they knew such additives were illegal and harmful to health if consumed long-term. However, due to the inherent sourness and perishability of early-season bayberries, coupled with widespread illegal practices in the industry, they argued that if they alone complied with the law, their bayberries would be impossible to sell, creating a vicious cycle where "bad money drives out good." On-site, workers even took the initiative to warn undercover mainland Chinese reporters, saying, "You can't eat this, it's soaked in chemicals," and "We don't dare to eat it." According to the reports, after the incident was exposed by the media, Zhangzhou authorities established a task force and dispatched multiple departments to the involved locations for joint law enforcement. The investigation revealed that a total of five collection points were involved. Authorities are continuing to trace the source, having seized 765 kg of problematic bayberries (an initial 225 kg, with another 540 kg recovered), 20.1 kg of illegal additives, filed 12 administrative cases, 2 criminal cases, and criminally detained 5 people. The problematic products are reportedly all destroyed.