Many sources are now reporting that the cause of the widely reported exploding melons in China is the application of growth chemicals, specifically forchlorfenuron.  Apparently the farmers, who were first-time users of the chemical, either applied too much of it or applied it at the wrong time in the growth process.  According to a report from the BBC the farmers were hoping to accelerate growth to get their products to market ahead of the peak, thereby increasing their profits.  Other sources, including the Guardian website, say that the exploding melons incident is just another in the continuing problem with inadequate farming practices in China.  Several websites, including discovery.com and yahoo.com, also described how melons treated with forchlorfenuron can be identified–they are mishapen, fibrous, and the seeds are mostly white.  It sounds like using the chemical affects the entire fruit, changing its color and even its seeds.  Although the Chinese news agency has declared the treated fruits are safe to eat, how can we really know that they are safe to eat and also nutritious?  What changes have been made to the melons that perhaps are not so obvious as the color and shape?

What does the problem with Chinese melons have to do with us here in Houston?  As you may have noticed many of our foods are imported from around the world, including from China.  Most foods are now required to state on the label where the food comes from.  We should read labels carefully to determine the source of the foods, whether fresh produce or canned or packaged food.  Also, yahoo.com says that, in the United States, forchlorfenuron is “registered for use on grapes and kiwi fruit.”  This is another good reason to buy organic produce, even when the food source is the United States.

And finally, this is another example of why we should, as much as possible, buy our food locally and know our farmers.  If we have talked with the farmers and we know that they care about the land and the quality of what is produced, we can have much more confidence that the food we buy from them is as safe and as healthy as they can make it.