Exploding watermelons put spotlight on Chinese farming practices

[BERIGAN]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/17/exploding-watermelons-chinese-farming

[Rooster_Ties]

[ejp626]

A sad situation -- one that reminds me of the US prior to the rise of the muckrakers in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Much of the food that city dwellers ate was adulterated and barely fit for consumption (read Upton Sinclair's The Jungle just for a taste). It really does call for a meaningful inspection regime (the market by itself does not sufficiently self-regulate itself), but it seems unlikely that China is really ready for that. Same thing with stronger environmental laws. Maybe in another 10-20 years...