In 2006, it was discovered that some Chinese garlic had been bleached with industrial chemicals to make it appear whiter and more appealing. This practice, which involved the use of toxic substances, was part of a broader pattern of food fraud in China. The scandal raised concerns about the safety of imported food and led to increased scrutiny of Chinese food exports.

The garlic bleaching scandal was covered in the international press and became a symbol of the dangers of global food supply chains. Poets and writers used the incident to explore themes of globalization, trust, and the ethics of food production. The scandal also contributed to the growing body of literature on food safety and the politics of food.