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Yesterday, the blossoms on the tips of two cucumbers finally withered. By then, it had already been 10 days since these two cucumbers were bought from the vegetable market.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
On May 24, Mr. Chi, a warm-hearted reader of the Evening News, made a special trip to the newspaper office, bringing with him two cucumbers with blossoms on their tips that he had bought from Chengnan Market in the urban area. “It is said that this kind of cucumber's tip blossom has very strong vitality. Leave it for a week, and the cucumber shrivels, but the blossom remains exactly the same.‘ Seeing that the reporter was somewhat skeptical, Mr. Chi continued, ’If you don't believe it, you can test it.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
So the reporter conducted an experiment with these two cucumbers. A week later, that is, on May 30, the reporter was surprised to find that the situation was indeed as Mr. Chi had said.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
What exactly is going on here? What kind of myth is this “cucumber with an everlasting blossom”? The reporter then consulted experts from the agricultural economics department, and the answer received was shocking. The reporter subsequently learned from searching the Internet that this kind of “cucumber with an everlasting blossom” is highly controversial.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
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The tip blossom looked the same when bought and still looked the same a week later.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
One-week observation recordArtikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
On the morning of May 24, Mr. Chi delivered these two cucumbers. At first glance, these two cucumbers were no different from other cucumbers. But upon closer inspection, these two cucumbers had protrusions on their tips, making the flower bases appear very large. After taking photographs of these two cucumbers for the record, the reporter placed them in a dark place under the office desk.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
On the morning of May 25, the reporter took out the cucumbers. The bodies of the cucumbers had somewhat shriveled, but the tip blossoms were still firm. The cucumbers were photographed and recorded again.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
On May 26, the bodies of the two cucumbers had already wilted, but the tip blossoms showed no signs of withering or fading. That day, in addition to taking photos, the reporter also placed the two cucumbers in two separate locations, one facing the light and one away from the light.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Early on the morning of May 27, the bodies of the two cucumbers had shriveled, but the tip blossoms were still there and still showed no signs of fading. Moreover, the two cucumbers did not differ because of being placed in different light and shade positions. That day, the reporter again took photos for the record.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
On May 28, 29, and 30, after three consecutive days of observation, the bodies of the two cucumbers continued to shrivel, but the tip blossoms seemed as if they had taken an elixir of immortality, remaining exactly the same as before. All three days were documented with photographs.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
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“Cucumbers with an everlasting blossom” are hormone cucumbers.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Agricultural economics experts diagnose the issue.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Regarding this kind of unusual cucumber, a saying has spread widely in the streets and alleys, and it is very frightening.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“Hormones such as preservatives must have been sprayed on the flower bases.” At Sanshuiwan Farmers Market in the urban area, some vegetable vendors held this view. In their opinion, spraying hormones such as preservatives on cucumber flower bases can extend the flowering period and improve the appearance. “Children nowadays all experience early puberty, and it is said to be caused by eating too many hormones. Spraying hormones on cucumbers must also be bad.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Mr. Xu, who lives in Hedong Apartment, is a relocated resident. Having been a farmer for most of his life, based on his many years of vegetable-growing experience, he insisted, “This kind of cucumber must have been sprayed with chemicals.” Mr. Xu firmly opposed this kind of unusual cucumber: “Cucumbers sprayed with chemicals are always bad for people to eat.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
So what exactly has been sprayed on this kind of unusual cucumber? And what exactly is bad about it for people who eat it? Many vegetable vendors and farmers interviewed by the reporter could not explain clearly.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Subsequently, the reporter brought these two “cucumbers with an everlasting blossom” to Zhang Yuehua, head of the Plant Protection Station of the Municipal Agricultural Economics Bureau, for diagnosis.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
After listening to the reporter's introduction and carefully examining the cucumbers, Zhang Yuehua immediately made a judgment: “These two cucumbers should have been sprayed with plant hormones.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
According to Zhang Yuehua, for normally naturally grown cucumbers, there will not be a raised “tumor” at the bottom of the flower base. The presence of a “tumor”-like swelling there is a typical sign of having been sprayed with plant hormones. Under Zhang Yuehua's guidance, the reporter looked carefully at the two cucumbers again and indeed found that both had raised “tumors” at the bottom of their flower bases.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“Cucumber flowers are divided into male flowers and female flowers, and only female flowers can bear fruit. On the day the female flower blooms, the flower is very fresh, and by the next day it begins to wilt. By the third and fourth days, the flower gradually withers. Under normal circumstances, after a naturally grown cucumber matures, part of the flower will still remain, but it is very small and already withered. With a gentle touch of the finger, it will naturally fall off.” Zhang Yuehua analyzed that for cucumbers with blossoms and prickles, if the flower base continuously does not fall off, it must be because vendors, catering to some consumer psychology, sprayed some hormone-type drugs on the flower bases of mature cucumbers to extend their flowering period.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
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Are hormone cucumbers harmful to health?Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Focus on the core issueArtikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
According to Zhang Yuehua, at present, agricultural products are mainly classified intoorganic food, green food, and pollution-free food, 3 major categories. According to the requirements of production technical standards,organic food, green food are not allowed to add preservatives and other hormones, while pollution-free food has no explicit prohibition requirement.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
For pollution-free food, cucumbers in greenhouses, due to insufficient light, have flower bases that are not firm enough during pollination and fruit setting and are prone to falling off. At this time, spraying some plant hormones can play a role in “protecting the fetus.” This is allowed in the production process and is very common. But generally, it can only be sprayed once per production cycle, and there are quantity requirements.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“This kind of hormone cucumber was very likely sprayed after the cucumber matured and when the flower base was about to fade,” Zhang Yuehua said.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
So, for this kind of hormone cucumber, exactly which hormone was sprayed? Zhang Yuehua said this is very difficult to identify.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
According to the introduction, at present, in agricultural product testing, the whole country basically focuses on pesticide residues and has not concentrated attention on whether hormones exceed standards. At the same time, whether hormones in agricultural products exceed standards is still very difficult to detect and remains in a regulatory blind spot.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“Hormones are divided into animal hormones and plant hormones. At present, out of consideration for health and safety, we focus regulation on animal hormones, such as those in pigs and chickens. The antibiotics injected into them are used to prevent disease, but people will have adverse reactions after eating them.” According to Zhang Yuehua, out of consideration for health and safety, whether animal hormones or plant hormones, neither should be abused and both should be kept within a certain standard range.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
By searching the Internet for information related to “hormone cucumbers,” the reporter found that there were a great many related entries, involving all parts of the country. However, as to whether eating hormone cucumbers is harmful to the human body, opinions vary and there is still no authoritative scientific conclusion.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
However, the reporter found that a saying is widely circulated online: this kind of cucumber sprayed with plant hormones, if children eat it for a long time, will eventually lead to early puberty; if women eat it for a long time, it may lead to infertility. According to the introduction, this plant hormone on cucumbers is called “Contraceptive No. 2.” In addition to preserving the cucumbers, it can also accelerate growth and increase yield.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
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Where are the hormone cucumbers on the Jiaxing market produced?Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Reporter's investigationArtikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Yesterday afternoon, the reporter went to Chengnan Market in the urban area, where the hormone cucumbers with “everlasting blossoms” were found very smoothly.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
At a stall near the market entrance, many cucumbers with blossoms and prickles were piled up. Many citizens buying vegetables were stopping to choose. The reporter found that this kind of cucumber with blossoms and prickles actually sold very well, even better than other cucumbers.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“How much per catty?” “Two yuan and fifty.” The stall owner said that cucumbers without blossoms were two yuan per catty.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“Why are the ones with blossoms more expensive?” the reporter asked.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“The ones with blossoms are fresh, just picked.” The stall owner claimed these cucumbers were purchased from the vegetable wholesale market.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“How long can these blossoms stay without falling off?” “If you don't water them, they will naturally fall off.” The stall owner answered.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
However, when the reporter took out from the bag those two cucumbers whose flower bases were still present and explained that they had already been observed for a week, the stall owners were also dumbfounded with disbelief, one after another, “How is this possible?”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
The residents buying vegetables gathered around after hearing the reporter's explanation, but soon turned away with disdain. They also believed “this is impossible.” “Cucumbers with flowers are fresh, just picked—we believe that, and it's normal for them to be a bit more expensive. But flowers that never wither—who would believe that!”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
The reporter then went to the city's vegetable wholesale market. In the trading area, the reporter easily found this unusual type of cucumber. In front of a large truck, bags of cucumbers with flowers on top and thorns on the surface were piled up, and the vendor was promoting them: “Cucumbers with flowers are one yuan fifty per jin, those without flowers are one yuan per jin.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“Why are the ones with flowers more expensive?”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
“They came from Shandong, just picked from the greenhouse,” the vendor explained to the reporter.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
According to the vendor, it takes two days to transport them from Shandong to Jiaxing. “Each shipment brings several thousand jin, about one ton in total. The cucumbers with flowers on top and thorns on the surface sold at various farmers” markets in Jiaxing basically all come from my wholesale operation."Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Previously, the reporter had also conducted on-site visits and surveys at farmers“ markets in Sanshuiwan, Yangliuwan, and other areas of the city, and found that such unusual cucumbers were not available at every stall. As for the reason why the flower base never falls off, all those questioned expressed confusion. However, the unusual cucumbers with ”flowers that never wither" looked fresh and were highly favored by residents buying vegetables.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Yesterday, the reporter conducted an on-site investigation around the city's vegetable wholesale market and found a store selling pesticides. When the reporter indicated a desire to keep cucumbers fresh, the shop owner immediately recommended a liquid pesticide called “mixianamine.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
The reporter examined the instructions for this pesticide, which showed that simply mixing the pesticide with water, soaking it, and then spraying it on cucumbers and other vegetables would keep them fresh. At the store, the owner also recommended a liquid hormone called “920.” The reporter examined the instructions for this hormone, and the method of use was almost identical.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Now is the peak season for cucumbers and other vegetables to hit the market in large quantities. Zhang Yuehua reminds citizens that from the perspectives of naturalness, safety, and nutrition, residents should ideally establish correct consumption concepts and try not to buy these hormone-treated cucumbers with flower bases that never wither and “tumors” at the bottom.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/
Source: Nanhu Evening News Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11238/