Claim: Seedless watermelons are genetically modified fruits created in chemical laboratories

Source: WhatsApp

Verdict: Misleading

Researched by Gifty Danso 

GhanaFact, through its WhatsApp platforms (the GhanaFact WhatsApp Chatbot and the Ghana FactChecking Network), has received a claim suggesting that seedless watermelons are genetically modified. 

The post, an image of split watermelons with accompanying text, has attained viral status with WhatsApp giving it the “forwarded many times” label. 

The text accompanying text read: “Anywhere you see this seedless watermelon RUN!!! It is a GENETICALLY MODIFIED FRUIT. Such fruits are created in chemical laboratory. It could be an orange or any other fruit. Once it is seedless, please don’t eat it. Please share and save someone’s life📌.” 

Fig 1 – Screenshot from the WhatsApp message in circulation

We also noticed that the same post had been shared across other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

Fact-Check

Using Google Reverse Image Search, GhanaFact traced the exact image to a post made by a Chinese X user on July 25, 2024, with a caption written in Chinese, but translated to mean: “In summer, iced watermelon is the way to go.”

Fig 2- Screenshot of 2024 post by Chinese X user

It is also worthy of note, that in the July 2024 post on X, the watermelon in the second frame has seeds, which are visible.

GhanaFact confirmed that July falls within the summer months in Asia where the original photo is believed to have been posted. 

Are seedless watermelons genetically modified fruits?

Dr. Frank Ackah, a crop scientist and senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in an interview with GhanaFact clarified that seedless watermelons can be bred through traditional means and or via genetic modification.  

“Don’t assume that seedless watermelons are GMOs. It is not so. It is specially bred for that purpose and so they are not GMOs. That is what some people have been saying, but it is not true. 

“It’s just about how it was developed, but in developing it, they can come up with a breed (that is) seedless. So it is not true that when you see seedless watermelons, they are GMOs. But yes, when it comes to genetically modified, they can also modify it to come out with that particular trait, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot have watermelons that used traditional breeding that are seedless,” he said. 

What are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)?

According to a group, Non GMO Project, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are plants or animals in which one or more changes have been made to their genetic material, usually with the help of high-tech genetic engineering, forcing the combination of very unrelated organisms that would not normally reproduce in nature. GMOs are used in many industries – from food, and cosmetics, to animal feed.

While several crops have been genetically modified and commercialised over time, researchers do not indicate that seedless watermelons or any type of seedless fruits are genetically modified. 

An article from Michigan State University in a 2019 article highlighted thus: “Seedless plants are not common, but they do exist naturally or can be manipulated by plant breeders without using genetic engineering techniques. No current seedless plants are genetically modified organisms (GMOs).”

Verdict: 

Therefore, the claim that seedless watermelons are genetically modified is Misleading. 

NOTE: This claim was submitted by a user of the GhanaFact chatbot.