China, the home of the firecracker, has developed another exploding device – this time in fruit form.
According to the Associated Press (AP), watermelons in eastern China are exploding due to the overuse of a chemical that helps them grow faster.
A report by China Central Television, which aired today (Tuesday), found farms in Jiangsu province were losing acres of fruit to the problem, AP said.
Farmers sprayed too much growth promoter on their crops, hoping they could get the watermelons to market ahead of season and make more money, the TV report said. This gave rise to a spate of exploding fruit.
China is battling against the rampant misuse of pesticides, fertilizers and food additives, such as dyes and sweeteners, designed to make produce more attractive and boost sales, AP said.
