A Reddit user got an unpleasant surprise when they bit into a banana that was speckled with red and brown marks, leaving the internet disgusted.
The user, Wiggan1989, shared a photo of the fruit in the thread r/CasualUK, and the unpleasant sight quickly gained attention, amassing 5,300 upvotes.
“Bought a pack of bananas the other day and came across this monstrosity. Some kind of zombie banana,” they wrote in the post.
Two experts told Newsweek what might have gone wrong with the banana.
Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, a food scientist and engineer from Puyallup, Washington, explained: “The dark brown and red lines that can form inside a banana are caused by plant pathogens that commonly infect the banana plant.
“They are caused either by a series of bacteria or fungi that often devastate banana plantations. However, these pathogens pose no threat to human health. If caused by the fungus nigrospora, consuming too much of the banana can cause gastrointestinal upset.”
Nigrospora is a fungal pathogen that causes a condition known as “nigrospora rot” in bananas. This fungus typically attacks bananas post-harvest, leading to a dry, dark brown or black rot, mainly affecting the fruit’s core.
While the infection doesn’t usually spread to the banana peel, it can significantly compromise the quality of the fruit, making it undesirable for consumption. This type of rot thrives in warm, humid environments, and is particularly prevalent in places with improper storage practices
Angel Luk, a registered dietitian from British Columbia, Canada, provided additional insights.
Stock image of a woman eating banana. The internet was horrified to see the woman’s unappetizing banana.
Felipe Gustavo S Borges/iStock / Getty Images Plus
She noted that while bacterial diseases of bananas are a concern, it’s unlikely they are responsible in this case since only one banana in the bunch seemed affected.
Luk suggested the general rule, “when in doubt, throw it out,” as a safe approach for this situation.
She also emphasized the importance of mindful eating. In today’s fast-paced world, people often eat without paying close attention, increasing the chances of missing abnormalities in their food.
By focusing on what we’re eating, we can avoid potentially unpleasant surprises like the one encountered by the Reddit user.
Commenters on the platform were quick to agree that the banana should be discarded.
“I think that’s a fungal infection. I wouldn’t eat it,” warned one user, HugoNebula.
“Looks like nigrospora, probably not the best idea to eat, but it’s not particularly dangerous to humans,” echoed another.
“I’m so upset that you bit this,” said one particularly concerned commenter.
Newsweek reached out to u/Wiggan1989 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the veracity of the photo.
