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October 25, 2010, China Times [Reported by Tang Bin]
Bozhou in Anhui Province, the hometown of the renowned Han Dynasty physician Hua Tuo and currently the largest distribution hub for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in mainland China, has recently faced public complaints about its TCM market. Issues such as "counterfeiting, selling fakes, and passing off inferior products as high-quality ones" have been exposed. Notably, visually appealing ginseng was revealed to have been treated with sulfur, posing a risk of mercury poisoning to consumers.
According to a report by China Central Television (CCTV), the sale of counterfeit medicine in Bozhou's TCM market is widespread. Common practices include using Brazilian turtles instead of medicinal turtles to produce turtle shell supplements, substituting imported low-quality jujube seeds for genuine sour jujube seeds, or passing off dried skinks and geckos as gecko-based medicine. Some commonly used TCM ingredients even have "more fakes than genuine products."
In the market, consumers may come across ginseng with unusually white skin and large size, mistakenly thinking they’ve found a bargain. However, such ginseng is often sulfur-treated. He Xirong, a TCM authentication expert from the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, explained that sulfur-bleached ginseng appears whiter and larger due to slower drying. "Consuming it is indeed harmful and can lead to mercury poisoning over time."
Industry insiders noted that while sulfur can kill insects and bacteria, it leaves behind sulfides that compromise safety. Consumers should check for unnaturally white color and unusual odors when purchasing ginseng to avoid buying sulfur-treated products that harm both their wallets and health.
Similarly, in Xi’an, "sulfur-treated ginger" was recently discovered in a wholesale produce market. Vendors used sulfur to enhance the appearance of lower-quality ginger. Sulfur-treated ginger sells for 0.4 yuan more per kilogram than untreated ginger, adding up to 400 yuan for 1,000 kilograms—while sulfur costs only 3 to 4 yuan, explaining why unscrupulous traders take the risk.
Source: http:/ / news. chinatimes. com/ m……5272x112010102500068,00. html
Toxic Ginseng in Anhui: Whitened and Enlarged with Sulfur
Bozhou in Anhui Province, the hometown of the renowned Han Dynasty physician Hua Tuo and currently the largest distribution hub for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in mainland China, has recently faced public complaints about its TCM market. Issues such as "counterfeiting, selling fakes, and passing off inferior products as high-quality ones" have been exposed. Notably, visually appealing ginseng was revealed to have been treated with sulfur, posing a risk of mercury poisoning to consumers.
According to a report by China Central Television (CCTV), the sale of counterfeit medicine in Bozhou's TCM market is widespread. Common practices include using Brazilian turtles instead of medicinal turtles to produce turtle shell supplements, substituting imported low-quality jujube seeds for genuine sour jujube seeds, or passing off dried skinks and geckos as gecko-based medicine. Some commonly used TCM ingredients even have "more fakes than genuine products."
In the market, consumers may come across ginseng with unusually white skin and large size, mistakenly thinking they’ve found a bargain. However, such ginseng is often sulfur-treated. He Xirong, a TCM authentication expert from the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, explained that sulfur-bleached ginseng appears whiter and larger due to slower drying. "Consuming it is indeed harmful and can lead to mercury poisoning over time."
Industry insiders noted that while sulfur can kill insects and bacteria, it leaves behind sulfides that compromise safety. Consumers should check for unnaturally white color and unusual odors when purchasing ginseng to avoid buying sulfur-treated products that harm both their wallets and health.
Similarly, in Xi’an, "sulfur-treated ginger" was recently discovered in a wholesale produce market. Vendors used sulfur to enhance the appearance of lower-quality ginger. Sulfur-treated ginger sells for 0.4 yuan more per kilogram than untreated ginger, adding up to 400 yuan for 1,000 kilograms—while sulfur costs only 3 to 4 yuan, explaining why unscrupulous traders take the risk.
Source: http:/ / news. chinatimes. com/ m……5272x112010102500068,00. html