The State Administration for Market Regulation said on Wednesday that it has asked local market regulators in Hunan and Henan provinces to thoroughly investigate and severely punish illegal acts in food production and operations as a few serious food safety problems related to pickled cabbage have come to light.

During the annual gala of China Media Group on Tuesday in Beijing to mark World Consumer Rights Day, an event that aims to raise awareness about consumer rights and needs, an exposure by the State broadcaster revealed compromised food safety practices related to pickled cabbage production.

Master Kong of Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp, China's largest instant noodle maker, admitted that it had purchased the pickled cabbage concerned to produce a kind of popular instant noodles.

Master Kong further said it has since suspended its cooperation with the pickled cabbage supplier concerned. It also apologized for its lapse and said it quickly ensured all related products were taken off the shelves.

Shares of Hong Kong-listed Master Kong declined 2.31 percent and closed at HK$13.54 ($1.73) per share on Wednesday, after tumbling more than 14 percent intraday.

Meanwhile, major instant noodles maker Uni-President China Holdings Ltd clarified on Tuesday evening that it does not deal with Hunan's pickled cabbage suppliers. In addition, it contacted the person in charge of its pickled cabbage suppliers to ensure all supplies meet required standards. Uni-President will conduct quality inspections together with the market supervision authority, it said.

In the next step, the State Administration for Market Supervision will ask local market supervision departments to conduct in-depth investigations into similar potential food safety risks in other food products and, in case of any wrongdoing, deal with them as per the law, the regulator said.