Go on, eat a banana

2005-04-14 14:08

Susan Erasmus

Cape Town - Don't eat bananas from Costa Rica - they could infect you with deadly flesh-eating bacteria. So the hoax e-mail goes.

After receiving several copies of the same e-mail from concerned readers, some of whom had eaten bananas in the preceding few days, Health24 investigated.

The e-mail states that the bacteria has been able to graft itself onto the skin of the bananas and so find their way into the general population.

Those who suspect they have this condition are advised to seek medical attention, and most disturbingly, if this is unavailable, to burn their own flesh to halt the spread of this bacteria.

Bacteria can't live on plants

And frankly, if you'll believe this, you'll believe anything. Bacteria can only survive in animals and humans (both dead and alive), but most certainly not on plants. Plants can harbour worms and parasites, but certainly not flesh-eating bacteria.

The e-mail further states that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reluctant to issue a warning, for fear of causing panic.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The FDA has indeed issued a statement in response to this hoax e-mail, which has been doing the rounds on the e-mail for months.

FDA issues response to hoax

"Health officials note that the type of streptococcal bacteria that cause this disorder, officially known as necrotising fasciitis, live in the human body and are usually transmitted person-to-person. There is no evidence that necrotising fasciitis, is transmitted by food," according to the FDA, who officially dismissed this rumour as a hoax and another urban legend.

The condition, which does exist, is extremely rare.

So, the bottom line is, feel free to eat that banana. It's not going to eat your flesh. In fact, it will do nothing to you at all - even if it comes from Costa Rica.

- Health24