'Don't open': Residents of Texas warned against mysterious packets shipped from China
The Texas Department of Agriculture has warned Texas residents against opening mysterious packets in their mailboxes that they don't know who sent. They have been asked to hand those mysterious packets to the agriculture department. The officials said they have noticed this growing trend where Texas houses are receiving unsolicited packets, probably from China. The agency said it's collected 1,101 packets from 109 locations across the state since February 2025. State officials are concerned that the seeds, if opened or planted, could introduce harmful invasive species, agricultural pests, or plant diseases to the region.
"At a glance, this might seem like a small problem, but this is serious business," Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said. "The possible introduction of an invasive species to the state via these seeds poses real risks to Texas families and the agriculture industry. We need everyone to report these packages when they arrive so the contents may be gathered and disposed of properly."
Not only Texas, the residents of New Mexico, Ohio and Alabama have also received such seed packets.
Texas officials said they are not certain whether the sender is from China but the packets appear to have been shipped from China.
In 2020 too, unsolicited seeds wete sent to a number of US homes. "Whether it's part of an ongoing scam or something more sinister, we are determined to protect Texans," Miller said. "Unsolicited seeds coming into our country are a risk to American agriculture, our environment, and public safety. Texas isn't going to take chances when it comes to protecting our people and our food supply."
Officials have also asked the residents not to throw them into the trash as they will then end up in a landfill. The latest seed package came to a Texas resident on December 29, 2025. The USDA is destroying the seeds using steam sterilization.
"At a glance, this might seem like a small problem, but this is serious business," Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said. "The possible introduction of an invasive species to the state via these seeds poses real risks to Texas families and the agriculture industry. We need everyone to report these packages when they arrive so the contents may be gathered and disposed of properly."
Not only Texas, the residents of New Mexico, Ohio and Alabama have also received such seed packets.
Texas officials said they are not certain whether the sender is from China but the packets appear to have been shipped from China.
In 2020 too, unsolicited seeds wete sent to a number of US homes. "Whether it's part of an ongoing scam or something more sinister, we are determined to protect Texans," Miller said. "Unsolicited seeds coming into our country are a risk to American agriculture, our environment, and public safety. Texas isn't going to take chances when it comes to protecting our people and our food supply."
Officials have also asked the residents not to throw them into the trash as they will then end up in a landfill. The latest seed package came to a Texas resident on December 29, 2025. The USDA is destroying the seeds using steam sterilization.
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