Texas Officials Warn of Invasive Seed Packages from China

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is warning residents about the resurgence of unsolicited seed packages arriving from China, with five packages reported statewide. The seeds have been identified as belonging to the invasive Sacred Lotus or Indian lotus, which poses potential environmental threats if introduced into local ecosystems. This situation echoes a similar incident from 2020 when thousands of Americans received mystery seeds, leading to federal investigations and heightened biosecurity measures. Miller urged Texans to exercise caution and report any suspicious packages without opening them. The Texas Department of Agriculture is actively collecting these packages for inspection and destruction to prevent any potential ecological harm. Officials emphasize the importance of tightening biosecurity protocols to prevent such shipments from bypassing customs in the future.