Exploding watermelons

[liberal N proud]

BEIJING — Watermelon fields in eastern China are a mess of burst fruit after farmers used growth chemicals in an attempt to make extra money but ended up ruining their crops, state media reported Tuesday.

An investigative report by China Central Television found farms in and around Danyang city in Jiangsu province were losing acres of fruit to the problem.

The farmers sprayed forchlorfenuron, a growth accelerator, during overly wet weather and put it on too late in the season, which made the melons burst, CCTV said, citing agricultural experts.

White seeds
It said most watermelons sold at a wholesale market in nearby Shanghai were believed to have been treated with forchlorfenuron. Telltale signs are fibrous, misshapen fruit with mostly white instead of black seeds, it said.

Chinese regulations don't forbid use of the substance. It is also allowed in the United States for use on kiwi fruit and grapes.

But the report underscores how farmers in China are abusing both legal and illegal chemicals, with many farms misusing pesticides and fertilizers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43057267/ns/world_news-weird_news/

[DainBramaged]

1. Remember kiddies, fruits imported from China are safe.....

not only do they try to fatten the beef, now they are fattening the fruits and vegetables. Insane.

[DainBramaged]

2. I noticed how this was ignored

Can't let those truth tellers speak out now can we....

[Brickbat]

3. Disgusting that this is categorized as "news of the weird."

I read my labels and buy no food from China.

[Codeine]

4. I thought this was about a Smashing Pumpkins tribute band or something.

:hide:

[ellenfl]

5. k&r no one is reading this? doesn't get any scarier. eom

[alsame]

6. k&r This is important. nt

[Odin2005]

7. Exploding watermelons? SERIOUSLY!?!

:wow:

[ZombieHorde]

8. I wonder if forchlorfenuron has an effect on those who eat the fruit treated by it. nt

[AsahinaKimi]

9. Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLW7JUGfn9I

[Laxman]

10. Its Futile to Resist!

I caught one of my neighbors trying to put one of those watermelons in my bedroom last night. He's been acting very strange lately.