The watermelon harvest in Panzhihua in Sichuan province has been good, but reports of bursting watermelons in Jiangsu province have kept consumers away. Scores of watermelons in and around Danyang city in Jiangsu began bursting recently because farmers used excessive growth chemicals to ensure their healthy growth during the recent wet weather, says an article in Beijing News. Excerpts:

Sales of watermelons have nosedived in many places because of the bursting watermelons. Moved by the plight of the Panzhihua farmers, many netizens are appealing to people and officials to buy their watermelons, saying they have not used growth chemicals.

Though it is not yet certain whether the growth chemicals used for the watermelons can harm humans, it is natural for people to assume the worst and stop consuming the fruit.

Falling sales (and prices) of watermelons have compelled farmers to seek media help to convince potential consumers that they do not use growth chemicals. Though only time will tell whether consumers believe them or not, there is no doubt that growth enhancers will only harm the interest of farmers.

That reports of bursting watermelons from just one city can create a mass watermelon-phobia reflects how edgy people have become when it comes to food safety. So farmers and other food producers should be careful with what they use in their products, because even the slightest mistake can upset the applecart.

No one knows how many more food safety scandals will hit us before all food products sold in the market become safe for human consumption. Perhaps the authorities should make it mandatory to let consumers know what chemicals are used to grow which farm product.