Mystery Seeds and Liquid Discovered in Package Sent From China to Texas: Officials Warn of Potential Harm

A mysterious package containing unidentified seeds and an unknown liquid, alarming Texas officialsand raising biosecurity concerns.

The unsolicited delivery from China recently arrived in Clute, a small town south of Houston. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has forwarded the package to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for testing.

"Folks, please take this matter seriously. Receiving any unsolicited liquid or chemical at your doorstep poses a significant risk to the health of you and your family. We also cannot allow unidentified seeds to enter Texas. If planted, invasive plant species will substantially harm the Texas agriculture industry. The TDA will work diligently to identify these unknown seeds and liquids to protect Texas residents," Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said per FOX7.

This incident is similar to a wave of mysterious seed deliveries that garnered national attention in 2020. At the time, packages falsely labeled as jewelry or toys were sent to residents in over 30 states, including Texas. Reports also emerged from Virginia and Georgia, where recipients described the parcels contained foreign markings.

When seeds of unknown origin enter the ecosystem, they can introduce invasive plant species, disrupt native flora and threaten food production. In 2020, an initial test in Florida identified some of the seeds as water lilies.

"If it's something exotic or have something we don't even find in the United States to take over an area, and potentially choke out our native plants or, worst case scenario, choke out our agricultural fields and create additional problems in term of managing for those types of weeds," Dr. Kevin Ong, a plant pathologist with Texas A&M AgriLife said per FOX7.

Texas officials are asking the public to remain vigilant. They advise residents not to open unsolicited packages from abroad that contain seeds or liquids and to report suspicious deliveries to the appropriate agencies.