Is the claim that baby cabbage causes cancer true?

Baby cabbage is a miniature small-head Chinese cabbage, belonging to the Brassica subspecies of the genus Brassica in the Cruciferae family. It is widely grown and cultivated in our country. This vegetable has a short growing period and strong adaptability, with good resistance to various environments, and is a delicious dish on Chinese people's dining tables. But there are also reports online saying that baby cabbage causes cancer, so is this true?

1. Is it true that baby cabbage causes cancer

The claim that baby cabbage causes cancer is a false rumor circulating online. The claim that baby cabbage causes cancer originated from a hidden-camera news report in Shandong, which found that unscrupulous vendors soaked baby cabbage in formaldehyde. Baby cabbage itself contains no carcinogenic factors; what is carcinogenic is the chemical raw materials those unscrupulous merchants used on the baby cabbage. So as long as you buy baby cabbage from normal sources in the market, it is safe to eat.

Normally grown baby cabbage not only contains no carcinogenic factors, but is also rich in nutritional value. Its texture is crisp, thin and sweet, with a sweet taste, though its price is slightly higher than ordinary Chinese cabbage. It is also rich in vitamins and selenium, and its chlorophyll content is higher than that of ordinary vegetables. In addition, it is rich in cellulose and trace elements, all of which can have a good nourishing effect on the human body.

2. Common ways to cook baby cabbage

Baby cabbage is similar to Chinese cabbage, but its size is only one-fourth to one-fifth that of Chinese cabbage. It is a “simulated miniature version” of Chinese cabbage, and there are many ways to cook it, with common ones including dry-pot baby cabbage and baby cabbage in superior broth. The specific methods are as follows:

For baby cabbage in superior broth, first heat 3 tablespoons of oil, saute ginger slices, garlic slices and scallion sections until fragrant, pour in green and red pepper pieces and stir-fry evenly, add 3 cups of superior broth, add red dates and goji berries, stir evenly and bring to a boil. Then add preserved egg and baby cabbage, mix well, cover and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. After the baby cabbage softens, add 1/4 tablespoon of salt and 1/3 tablespoon of chicken powder for seasoning, and it is ready to serve.

For dry-pot baby cabbage, first put oil in the wok, and after it is hot, add chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns and stir-fry until fragrant, then add sliced pork belly and stir-fry over low heat. When the pork slices are cooked, add onion, stir-fry for a moment, then add cooking wine, soy sauce, white sugar and other seasonings and stir-fry evenly. Finally, add the baby cabbage and stir-fry evenly, add salt and stir-fry for a moment, then add chicken essence for seasoning and it is ready.

That is all for baby cabbage. Everyone should not easily believe the rumors online about baby cabbage causing cancer. If baby cabbage could talk, it would surely cry out that it has been wronged.