Recently, some farmers in Yunnan and Hubei provinces have been exposed for using highly toxic pesticides to grow sweet potatoes and vegetables, raising concerns about the inadequate food safety supervision by the authorities.
According to a report by the state-run media CCTV, in the sweet potato planting area of Xiaokuangye Village in Jianshui County, Yunnan, many bags and bottles of pesticides labeled with chlorpyrifos were found abandoned near the fields.
Chlorpyrifos is a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide classified as a 2B carcinogen. It has been banned from production since September 1, 2022, and banned from sale and use since September 1, 2024. However, in the local area, chlorpyrifos has become a “secret weapon” for some unscrupulous farmers to reduce costs, increase yields, and make the sweet potatoes look more “perfect”.
Local villagers revealed that a key step in sweet potato cultivation is insecticide spraying. In order to grow smooth-looking sweet potatoes, some farmers use the highly toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos to kill insects.
A sweet potato farmer in Yunnan, Wan Zong, admitted that using low-toxic pesticides requires three applications, while high-toxic pesticides only need one application, resulting in a cost three times higher according to the standard.
It has been reported that these toxic sweet potatoes have spread to more than 20 provinces across the country through wholesale markets, e-commerce platforms, and other channels.
However, the issue of “toxic sweet potatoes” is not limited to Yunnan.
Reportedly, in Qiwuxiang Village, Yuekou Town, Tianmen City, Hubei Province, there is a strong pungent smell of pesticides in the air. Dozens of pesticide bags labeled “Carbophenothion” were discarded in ditches and fields.
Carbophenothion is a highly toxic organothiophosphate pesticide that could pose a fatal threat to adults with just 0.08 grams. It has been expressly banned from production since June 1, 2024. However, the existing inventory produced before the ban can still be sold. As a result, some agricultural market vendors in many places have bought code printing equipment to change the manufacturing date of the new bottled banned pesticide to before June 2024 to evade supervision.
Local villagers revealed that the locals who understand the situation resolutely refuse to eat local vegetables, as these vegetables are all sold outside.
The responsible person for planting in the local area, Luo Zong, also admitted to using this banned pesticide. Luo Zong said that if low-toxic biological pesticides are used in compliance with the requirements, the cost per mu of land would be thirty to forty yuan higher, and the growth cycle would be extended by 7 to 10 days. Most importantly, it is unavoidable to leave insect damage marks on the surface of the vegetables. Vegetables with insect eyes are delivered to wholesale markets, and buyers are unwilling to even take a second look before rejecting them on the spot.
“Customers simply do not recognize this type of goods,” Luo Zong said without shame. “The market only favors ‘model vegetables’ with shiny surfaces, full leaves, and not even a tiny flaw.”
The report pointed out the irony that local government departments have shown weak and ineffective supervision of such illegal activities. Even if the illegal facts are verified, the most severe punishment is to destroy the crops, impose fines of several thousand yuan, and temporarily suspend the planting qualifications for a short period. However, the illegal gains from a single season of “toxic vegetables” can easily reach tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of yuan, making these penalties seem like a mere slap on the wrist.
The panic caused by toxic sweet potatoes and vegetables has spread among internet users. Netizens have expressed their concerns, stating, “For the sake of profit, they would do anything immoral.” “Toxic cabbage, toxic sweet potatoes, what else can we eat?” “Is there anything safe on this land?” “With such a big market supervision system, what are they doing?” “Almost all vegetables are sprayed with highly toxic pesticides, and as long as no one immediately dies, nobody cares!” “Yet they keep calling for pressure against the US and Japan.” “Strictly investigate the local functional departments for their inadequate supervision, inaction, and irresponsibility!”