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Exploding watermelons put spotlight on Chinese farming practices
The Guardian ^ | May 17, 2011 | Jonathan Watts

Posted on 05/17/2011 9:14:50 AM PDT by Parmenio

The flying pips, shattered shells and wet shrapnel still haunt farmer Liu Mingsuo after an effort to chemically boost his fruit crop went spectacularly wrong.

Fields of watermelons exploded when he and other agricultural workers in eastern China mistakenly applied forchlorfenuron, a growth accelerator....The report said the farmers sprayed the fruit too late in the season and during wet conditions, which caused the melons to explode like "landmines". After losing three hectares (eight acres), Liu said he was unable to sleep because he could not shake the image of the fruit bursting.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; napl; watermelon
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To: sickoflibs
I definitely want to avoid any food imported from there.

You said it! China's made big inroads in the American pharmaceutical market, and in vitamins and other supplements. Selling finished product, but also selling ingredients to American companies to use in their products. You think it's made in the USA, but it's not.

Mercury, lead and arsenic are common contaminants. Even if you can find a company that doesn't source anything from China, that could change at any time and you'd never be any the wiser. Companies aren't required to reveal it on the label, or anywhere else afaik.

41 posted on 05/17/2011 10:53:57 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: Parmenio

China is actually still in the perverse final stages of Communism. Its all about “materialism” which is the basis of Marxist thought.

The irony is that Mao organized Chinese society for the productive explosion its experienced these past 25 years.

Everything in China today is about making a buck and morality has been destroyed by the Communists.


42 posted on 05/17/2011 10:54:49 AM PDT by PGR88 (I'm so open-minded my brains fell out)
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To: hoagy62
Gallagher should sue the Chinese for endangerment.

No, he should sue the farmer for trademark infringement.

43 posted on 05/17/2011 10:55:21 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: Parmenio
Liu said he was unable to sleep because he could not shake the image of the fruit bursting.

Sounds like somebody who needs a front-row seat at a Gallagher comedy show.

44 posted on 05/17/2011 10:57:57 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: Parmenio

Wonder if this is related to the exploding deer populations we sometimes hear about.


45 posted on 05/17/2011 11:04:22 AM PDT by Western Phil
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To: Pan_Yan; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...

"Stand back! They're gonna blow!"



46 posted on 05/17/2011 11:36:06 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: boycott
SCARY we have such high demands on our food producers but allow their deadly slop to be sent to us.

Actually most American food, aside from meat, is never inspected. The plants producing the food may be inspected once a year.

47 posted on 05/17/2011 11:39:39 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: Straight Vermonter

Okay, that’s just kind of creepy gross.


48 posted on 05/17/2011 11:53:22 AM PDT by Pan_Yan
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To: Parmenio

O.K., enough with the “come ons”; there was supposed to be a video of a field of exploding watermelons. I feel cheated!!! /sarc


49 posted on 05/17/2011 12:09:05 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: thackney; humblegunner; TheMom; Eaker; Hap; Allegra

And all this time we’ve been blowing up watermelons the hard way.


50 posted on 05/17/2011 12:22:35 PM PDT by Bacon Man (Need more bacon)
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To: sickoflibs

That’s exactly why they will not label it.

Same with genetically modified foods. They know that people won’t buy them if they’re labeled as such, so they don’t label them. I’m allergic to GM wheat, and I found out the hard way.


51 posted on 05/17/2011 1:26:04 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: Slings and Arrows

Uh... Hi, Slings!


52 posted on 05/17/2011 1:32:16 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: Slings and Arrows
Just my opinion...I think someone is in over their head. ;D


53 posted on 05/17/2011 1:56:37 PM PDT by Daffynition ("Don't just live your life, but witness it also.")
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To: TheOldLady

Ummm...”Slings?” Who is this “Slings,” Ms Person I Have Never Met Before In My Life? No, there is no “Slings” here! Uh-uh.


54 posted on 05/17/2011 1:57:46 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Daffynition

Between the exploding and the demonic possession it looks like a bad year for watermelons.


55 posted on 05/17/2011 1:59:36 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows; TheOldLady

56 posted on 05/17/2011 2:03:12 PM PDT by Daffynition ("Don't just live your life, but witness it also.")
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To: Parmenio

Imagine doing that to a durian (stink melon).


57 posted on 05/17/2011 2:04:06 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Hawk)
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To: Daffynition; Slings and Arrows; TheOldLady; paulycy
Makes for dangerous ammo


58 posted on 05/17/2011 2:07:51 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: Daffynition

The new symbol of the Dhimmicratic party.


59 posted on 05/17/2011 2:14:49 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Oh, please forgive me Mr. Arrows! I have mistaken you for a dear friend, but I should have known that regardless how much he is enamored of the subject he wishes were at hand, he would never stoop to post such a blatant representation of the objects of his affection.

I consider you a new friend! See you later.


60 posted on 05/17/2011 2:23:27 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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