By Zheng Yi

More than 60 percent of the ginger sold in the markets of Xi’an, in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, undergo a smoking process using sulfur, which means that this ginger is more expensive than the regular type - and it can damage the stomach, the nervous system and even the kidneys, China National Radio (CNR) reported on Wednesday.

According to the industry and commerce department in Xi’an, ginger smoked with sulfur is usually lighter than normal ginger, and can be found in several large vegetable wholesale markets in Xi’an, which are the residents’ biggest suppliers of ginger.

Smoked ginger usually sells much better than the regular type, as the color is different and more enticing, which is why some vendors use sulfur to smoke low-quality ginger.

Wang Jiaoyue, the deputy general manager of an IT company in Xi’an, told the Global Times that she is not surprised by the news.

“I found some ginger in the market was lighter and smoother than the ordinary type, and this ginger looked like it had been washed in water, and had an unnatural color. So, I always thought this ginger was abnormal and chose darker ginger.”

According to CNR, doctors said that people who eat ginger that was smoked using industrial sulfur are more likely to develop stomach ailments and nerve problems – and this type of ginger could also damage people’s kidneys if consumed regularly.

Wang Jishan, vice president of the People's Hospital of Peking University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that people would be poisoned if they eat ginger which is smoked using sulfur, as this chemical contains heavy metals.

He advised consumers to check the color, smell and taste of the ginger that they buy at their local market.