Multiple regions expose major cases of fake and toxic salt: cost 400 yuan, selling price over 4000 yuan

According to Xinhua News Agency, 240 boxes of fake salt were seized at the processing site, totaling more than 35 tons of counterfeit edible salt, and an unknown quantity of fake salt had already been sold... For using industrial salt to counterfeit iodized edible salt and selling it, a resident of Shijiazhuang surnamed Cao was recently approved for arrest in accordance with the law.

In recent years, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan and Shanxi have successively exposed major cases of fake salt and toxic salt, and Guizhou even uncovered "livestock salt sold for human consumption." A review by reporters found that domestic fake salt cases can be traced back at least to 1994. Why is it difficult for layer upon layer of supervision to stop the spread of fake salt? A review by reporters found that reports on fake salt cases can be traced back at least to 1994. In the past 3 years, there have been hundreds of publicly reported criminal cases involving fake salt across various regions, involving at least 17 provinces and cities. Among them, in a case cracked by Jiangsu police in 2015, more than 20,000 tons of fake salt flowed into Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong and other places. Why have illegal and criminal activities of producing and selling fake and inferior edible salt continued to rise and intensify in various places in recent years?

Low cost of counterfeiting, huge profits

Reporters learned that industrial salt on the market sells for only about 400 yuan per ton, and inferior industrial salt is even cheaper, while edible salt sells for more than 4000 yuan per ton on the market. In the case previously exposed in Guizhou of "livestock salt sold for human consumption," the profit on some fake and inferior edible salt could reach 20 times.

Low threshold for production and sales, easily available raw materials

Experts say that the main materials currently used on the market to counterfeit edible salt are refined industrial salt and livestock salt, as well as salts used for feed additives and printing and dyeing auxiliaries. Although industrial salt is uniformly managed and operated by salt companies, purchasing channels are open, and many chemical trading companies sell it.

Showing a trend of gang-based and large-scale operation

In a case seized by Guangzhou police, the counterfeiting gang adopted a "quick battle, quick decision" processing model: purchasing goods on the day orders were received, processing and packaging late at night, shipping immediately, and switching counterfeit production sites once every 20-plus days.

Production and sales "one-stop" across a wide area

In a particularly large 2015 case involving 7 provinces and cities in which industrial salt was passed off as edible salt, the gang involved not only sold through traditional distribution networks and the internet, but also colluded with long-distance passenger drivers to sell fake salt elsewhere. In many fake salt cases, the overall packaging, batch inkjet codes and safety marks were all complete.

Calls

Need higher hygiene standardsTo regulate edible salt production

The Salt Industry System Reform Plan will be implemented starting January 1, 2017, and competition in the salt industry will intensify. Vigilance is needed against producers and distributors lowering quality standards to enhance price competitiveness. Industry insiders believe that to ensure the quality and safety of edible salt from the source, higher standards and stricter edible salt production management must be implemented. At present, edible salt production standards are relatively low. To meet society's requirements for hygiene, environmental protection and other aspects, edible salt production should be regulated according to hygiene standards equal to or even higher than those for other foods.