Bananas from KwaZulu-Natal are safe to eat, was the message to consumers in South Africa and Mozambique after e-mail rumours of flesh-eating bananas led to a drop in sales.
Local bananas are not infected with a flesh-eating bacteria, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said yesterday.
The reassurance comes after the circulation of an e-mail advising people not to buy or eat KZN bananas and to seek medical attention if they develop a fever after eating bananas.
In neighbouring Mozambique, rumours of flesh-eating bananas sparked a plummet in sales, prompting Mozambique’s health minister to yesterday reassure people that they are safe to eat.
“From the work conducted by the Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Trade and Industry, it was concluded that there is no record of entry of any infected banana in the country,” said a statement.
Both countries also urged people not to burn their skin as a way of countering any infection.
An e-mail and text message hoax warning people against eating bananas for the next three weeks went viral as people feared being infected by necrotising fasciitis, or skin-eating disease.
The bacteria can destroy skin, fat and tissue covering the muscles, the e-mail warned.
The messages also advised people to see a doctor if they developed a fever after eating the fruit.
According to the hoax, bananas from KwaZulu-Natal were particularly likely to carry the virus.
Reacting to the e-mail warning, the South African authorities said bananas from KwaZulu-Natal were safe for human consumption and were not infected with a flesh-eating bacteria.
“The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is aware of (an) e-mail circulating, claiming that bananas from KwaZulu-Natal can infect people with a flesh-eating bacteria.
“The information received from the Department of Health reports that the e-mail is a hoax, and any claims regarding poor food safety will be investigated,” Steve Galane, spokes-man for the department, said in a statement.
Galane said the message also advises readers to burn the skin around any infection to prevent it from spreading.
“The department strongly advises against burning of the skin.
“Deliberately burning your skin could lead to serious injury and permanent damage.”– Sapa, Sapa-AFP
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‘Killer bananas’ e-mail a hoax