Texas officials are trying to track more than 1,200 surprise seed packages linked to China that are showing up in mailboxes across the state. In the first two weeks of January 2026, they picked up 120 packages, often tied to earlier shopping on sites like Temu and TikTok. Authorities worry these seeds could carry harmful pests or diseases that might damage farms and ecosystems.
In 2020, every state warned residents about mystery seeds and later linked them to “brushing” scams, where sellers send cheap items to create fake reviews. Officials say the current wave is larger and faster than the earlier incident, and they believe more than 2,500 such packages could reach Texas in a year if the trend continues. Other states, including Florida, New Mexico, Alabama, and Ohio, have reported the same issue, suggesting a wider national problem.
Security Risks, Scams, and Invasive Species
Investigators believe many recipients had their addresses obtained from e‑commerce activity, especially on Temu and TikTok, and note that Temu faced lawsuits in 2024 and 2025 over alleged spyware and data theft. The Texas agriculture commissioner has called the situation a serious security problem because state agriculture is worth about 30.8 billion dollars and covers 125 million acres, with cattle alone bringing in about 11.9 billion dollars.
Even a single invasive insect, plant, or pathogen could harm crops in eastern Texas, which is the main crop‑growing region of the state. Some packages may hold bare‑root plants or liquids that bypass normal import permits, and shippers sometimes mark them as jewelry or beads to avoid checks. These cases match known “brushing” scams, in which cheap, lightweight seeds are sent to create fake reviews and possibly support identity theft.
Officials warn that seeds in past incidents have included weeds, ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, and invasive plants, all of which can be difficult to dispose of safely. Experts also point out that invasive species already cost United States agriculture about 21 billion dollars per year and have caused an estimated 1.7 trillion dollars in global damage from 1970 to 2017, with costs rising sharply over time.
Government Response and What Residents Should Do
Federal and state agencies work together to understand and stop the shipments, test the seeds, and destroy any that pose risks. Homeland Security investigates where the packages originate and which fraud networks may be involved, and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service runs lab tests on seed samples. Customs and Border Protection increases checks on direct‑to‑consumer parcels, and officials press online platforms to stop illegal seed sales.
The Texas Department of Agriculture urges residents to report any mystery seed packages through the 1‑800‑TELL‑TDA hotline and keep the packages sealed until officials collect them. Residents should not plant, open, or throw the seeds in normal trash, and, as a last option, they may bake the seeds at 350–400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes before disposal.
The surge in these mailings highlights weaknesses in biosecurity as cross-border online shopping grows and platforms like Temu amass huge address lists in the United States. Policymakers now face pressure to balance the ease of global online trade with protecting a $1.4 trillion farm economy in a warming world, amid rising trade volumes and heightened invasion risks.
Sources:
- News4SanAntonio, Mystery seeds from China flooding Texas mailboxes, January 14, 2026
- The Hill, Mystery seed warning: Texas officials report ‘sharp spike’, January 15, 2026
- DHS CWMD Intelligence Note, Unsolicited Seed Packages in the Homeland Likely Pose Threats to Environment and Agriculture, June 26, 2025
- Fox7Austin, Texans warned not to plant unmarked seed packets from unknown senders, January 5, 2026
- CNN, All 50 states have issued warnings about those mysterious seed packages, July 29, 2020
- Farm Progress, USDA concludes the mystery seeds were part of ‘brushing scam’, August 13, 2023