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The farmers in the hope of making their watermelons bigger and more profitable used a growth accelerator known as forchlorfenuron.
But what is Forchlorfenuron?
Forchlorfenuron, according to the U.S. EPA is a cytokine which improves fruit size, fruit set, cluster weight and cold storage in grapes in kiwi fruits.
Some scientist and professors said that the chemical is safe when used properly. The drug had been used too late in the season when heavy rain activity raised the risk of the fruit exploding. A professor, Wang Liangju, with the College of Horticulture at Nanjing Agricultural University, said:” If it had been used on very young fruit, it wouldn’t be a problem. Another reason (for the problem) is that the melon they were planting is a thin-rind variety and these kind are actually nicknamed the “exploding melon” because they tend to split”.
Chinese regulations don’t forbid the use of the drug, and it’s allowed in the United States on kiwi fruit and grapes, but it’s been reported that many farmers in China are abusing both legal and illegal chemicals, with many farms misusing pesticides and fertilizers. (Watch the video bellow)
But what is Forchlorfenuron?
Forchlorfenuron, according to the U.S. EPA is a cytokine which improves fruit size, fruit set, cluster weight and cold storage in grapes in kiwi fruits.
Some scientist and professors said that the chemical is safe when used properly. The drug had been used too late in the season when heavy rain activity raised the risk of the fruit exploding. A professor, Wang Liangju, with the College of Horticulture at Nanjing Agricultural University, said:” If it had been used on very young fruit, it wouldn’t be a problem. Another reason (for the problem) is that the melon they were planting is a thin-rind variety and these kind are actually nicknamed the “exploding melon” because they tend to split”.
Chinese regulations don’t forbid the use of the drug, and it’s allowed in the United States on kiwi fruit and grapes, but it’s been reported that many farmers in China are abusing both legal and illegal chemicals, with many farms misusing pesticides and fertilizers. (Watch the video bellow)
IMMPORTANT NOTE: Watermelons that are grown with hormones will display CRACKS on the inside. This is a sign that the watermelon grew faster than it was supposed to.
According to some researches here are the lists of fruits and vegetables which contain pesticides:
High in pesticide:
- Apples
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Cherry tomatoes
- Snap peas
Low in pesticides:
- Avocados
- Pineapples
- Cabbage
- Onions
- Mangos
- Papayas
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi
- Sweet potatoes
Really, you can`t find the way to eliminate the intake of pesticides with food, especially for the foods that contain the highest levels of pesticides. But try to reduce contamination by washing the product thoroughly and peeling it if needed.
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