The strange case of the exploding melons!

[Nature's Babe]

It seems like farmers in china were after a fat profit, and it backfired !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13421374

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/ma ... se-farming

[alan refail]

Quote from article;
"Wang Dehong, who has been farming watermelons for 20 years, couldn't understand why his fruit also exploded as he had not used any chemicals."

[Primrose]

Just goes to show, you shouldn't mess with nature although it's a mystery why untreated fruit should behave in the same way. It does make me reluctant though, to buy any fruit knowingly grown in China.

[Nature's Babe]

Hi Primrose, I guess spray can drift, if a lot are spraying around the area. This was funny rather than dangerous, but they have had other more serious incidents, like the baby milk, see the second link.

[PLUMPUDDING]

My son is cycling in China at the moment - I'll have to tell him to watch out!

[Primrose]

There was also the famous case of the sofa allegies. Apparently hundreds of people buying new sofas from China developed serious "burn" allegies which lasted for months and didn't respond to any treatment. It turned out that inside the sofas were toxic crystals which had been put there to prevent mould & condensation forming inside them during transit.

[Tony Hague]

And not forgetting the fake eggs ! I never quite got my head round that one, it sounded harder to do an a lot less wholesome than keeping a few chickens, but presumably a few pence cheaper.

[sally wright]

Dear All,
there was also the problem with putting melamine into powdered milk and the over use of antibiotics in honey.
I think I would take a packed lunch if I were to visit there.
Regards Sally Wright

[Edible]

The title of this thread sounds sore!

When I went over there I must say, i lived on out of date imported peanut butter oreos and Pizza. lost like 2 dress sizes though!