Americans warned not to plant suspicious seeds from China received through the mail

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Even without ordering, Americans in various US states reported receiving packets of seeds shipment in their residence.
• Government organizations and other federal agencies were tasked to conduct an investigation over the unsolicited shipment.
• The US Department of Agriculture issued a warning to the public not to plant the seeds and to report to authorities if they get the package.

Unsolicited packets of seeds, that seemed to come from China and sent through the mail, were reportedly received by residents from more than 12 states. The incident led officials from the agricultural sector in numerous US states to release public warnings against planting the seeds.

The Customs and Border Protection, the state department, and other federal agencies have been asked by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct an investigation, the department said.

According to Ryan Quarles, Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner, several residents advised the state’s agriculture department when they received the packages.

“We don’t know what they are, and we cannot risk any harm whatsoever to agricultural production in the United States,” Quarles said. “We have the safest, most abundant food supply in the world and we need to keep it that way.”

“At this point in time, we don’t have enough information to know if this is a hoax, a prank, an internet scam, or an act of agricultural bioterrorism,” he added. “Unsolicited seeds could be invasive and introduce unknown diseases to local plants, harm livestock, or threaten our environment.”

In North Carolina, some people notified the department of agriculture and consumer services, and said that they received unsought seed shipments. The shipments were looked like a product of “brushing,” the agency said.

Phil Wilson, the state’s plant industry division said: “According to the Better Business Bureau, foreign, third-party sellers use your address and Amazon information to generate a fake sale and positive review to boost their product ratings.”

Nikki Fried, Florida’s agriculture and consumer services commissioner, said on Twitter on Tuesday that the state recorded over 600 reports of suspicious seed packages.

The USDA has urged the public to report the mysterious packages to authorities and advised not to plant the seeds.

Source: The Guardian