With the arrival of winter, cotton products and quilts have become highly sought after in the market. However, some unscrupulous merchants are taking advantage of this demand by selling substandard "black heart cotton" products to vulnerable groups such as students and migrant workers. In response, the Mingwu Road Industrial and Commercial Bureau under the Zhengzhou Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce recently conducted a special inspection of 15 labor insurance product stores in its jurisdiction, deploying 20 staff members to ensure the safety of the cotton market.
During the operation, officials focused on verifying whether businesses had valid licenses, whether their supply chains were legitimate, and if sales records were properly maintained. This was done to prevent "three-no" (no production license, no quality certificate, no trademark) or substandard products from entering the market. A reporter accompanied law enforcement officers to one store where a group of people were purchasing bedding from a temporary building. Inside, a variety of bedding items were displayed, including quilt covers. Upon opening one of the quilts, black and gray discolored cotton was found mixed between two layers of white cotton.
Law enforcement officials discovered over 10 quilts in the store that were classified as "black heart cotton." According to the shop owner, the quilts were sold by a salesman, and he claimed not to know the manufacturer. He stated that 20 quilts were initially available, and about seven or eight had already been sold. The price was very low—around 50 to 60 yuan each—and the products were mainly targeted at migrant workers. "They don't care about quality; they just need something to keep them warm," the owner said. "They can't afford expensive ones."
When asked by law enforcement officials whether it was ethical to sell such low-quality products to migrant workers who live under overpasses, the shop owner had no response.
In total, 17 quilts and blankets were found to be potentially substandard across three stores. All these items have now been temporarily seized and will be further processed.
"Black heart cotton" is a term used to describe materials banned in the textile industry, such as industrial Waste, medical fibrous waste, recycled fibers, and old clothing. These materials can cause serious health issues, including diarrhea, lung infections, and skin diseases. Some fillers contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, which can irritate the eyes and skin. Additionally, the presence of bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus makes these products extremely dangerous.
To identify "black heart cotton," officials advise consumers to ask for product certifications, check the color of the filling, and look for debris or foreign threads. If the cotton is overly white, it may have been chemically bleached. Smelling the material can also help—these products often have a strong chemical odor. The simplest test is to burn a small piece: real cotton burns completely into ash, while "black heart cotton" produces black smoke and a pungent smell.
Consumers are urged to be cautious when purchasing cotton products and to report any suspicious items to the authorities. By staying informed and vigilant, we can protect ourselves and others from harmful products.
Guangdong Kinen Sanitary Ware Industrial Co.,Ltd. , https://www.kinengroup.com