RIO DE JANEIRO (BDCi) – Brazil’s agriculture community fears that current World Cup fans could be arriving in South America with some 350 new plant parasites.
A recent study shows that parasites of foreign origin are becoming more and more common in Brazil, including the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) from Australia.
According to the National Plant Defense Association (Andef), American tourists potentially carry 225 agricultural parasites that have never been seen in Brazil.
Authorities have begun to crack down and confiscated 86 pounds of the Uruguayan national team’s dulce de leech, a caramel-like confection popular in Uruguay and Argentina) for not having the proper documentation.
Italian fans could bring up to 126 new parasites, while the French might be carrying around 120.
By: Diego Díaz Source: AFP Photo: Google 20 June 2014
10:00 a.m. P.D.T.