Officials have issued a stern warning to Americans after receiving numerous reports of residents claiming they were mailed seeds in packets mislabeled as jewelry.
According to the reports, residents of at least six states have recently reported being left baffled after receiving small packages containing seeds from China despite never making such orders.
While it is unclear why these individuals were sent seeds in packages mislabeled as jewelry, authorities have warned that such seeds could be harmful to livestock or introduce new diseases to local flora.
“The seeds are sent in packages usually stating that the contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock,” the Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed.
As seen in the photos shared by confused residents, seeds shipped from China arrived in small sealed packages labeled as jewelry.
Issuing a warning about the suspicious parcels was also The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services who claimed unknown seeds could be invasive plant species.
“Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops,” they wrote.
Meanwhile, one Utah resident opened up about her experience on the matter and said she received two packets labeled as earrings from China.
“I opened them up and they were seeds. Obviously they’re not jewelry!” Tooele-based Lori Culley said in an interview with FOX 13.
According to the reports, at least forty Utah residents received similar packages containing seeds recently.
Contributing to the debate was also the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry who urged residents to report unsolicited shipments containing seeds to the department.
“Right now, we are uncertain what types of seeds are in the package. Out of caution, we are urging anyone who receives a package that was not ordered by the recipient, to please call the LDAF immediately,” Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M, said.
“We need to identify the seeds to ensure they do not pose a risk to Louisiana’s agricultural industry or the environment.”
The LDAF also confirmed that similar reports have taken place in the UK where hundreds of gardeners allegedly received mysterious seeds from China in packages labeled as ear studs.
Replaced!