Buzz
The renowned comedy troupe Monty Python shed light on the genuine risks of encountering an assailant wielding fresh produce in their iconic 1969 skit. Though their self-defense lesson focused on bananas as weapons, the lethal potential of fresh fruit is no joke. From choking and poisoning to trip hazards and falling objects, fresh fruit can be deadly. Here are ten alarming examples.
10. Grapes of Wrath
Small, sweet, and seemingly harmless? Don’t underestimate grapes—they can be deadly. In 2017, a five-year-old boy tragically choked to death at an after-school program when a grape blocked his airway. Despite paramedics' efforts to remove it with specialized forceps, the attempt failed. Between 1999 and 2013 in the U.S., 2,103 children died from airway obstructions caused by foreign objects, with grapes ranking third, behind only hot dogs and hard candies.
According to the British Medical Journal, grapes are particularly dangerous for choking, especially in young children who may not chew thoroughly. Their soft texture and round shape make them difficult to dislodge using the Heimlich maneuver, often leaving them stuck in the airway. While cutting grapes can reduce the risk, it doesn’t eliminate it entirely. Even in ancient times, the Greek playwright Sophocles reportedly died after choking on a grape seed in his wine around 405 BC.
9. An Apple A Day…
The well-known saying suggests that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but sometimes good intentions can lead to devastating outcomes. In May 2016, a 22-month-old toddler in New Zealand suffered permanent paralysis after choking on a piece of apple, which caused cardiac arrest and resulted in severe motor impairments. This near-fatal incident serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers.
Beyond choking hazards, apple seeds also carry a potential poisoning risk. They contain amygdalin, a compound that releases hydrogen cyanide when the seed is crushed or chewed. In large doses—approximately 50-300mg for an adult—this can be fatal. A single apple seed contains about 0.6mg of cyanide, meaning you’d need to eat between 83 and 500 seeds to face acute poisoning. While one Golden Delicious apple won’t harm you, excessive consumption could be dangerous.
8. Going Bananas
A common myth suggests that eating six or seven bananas in one sitting could lead to fatal potassium poisoning. However, this is false. Researchers estimate that consuming over 400 bananas daily would be necessary to reach a lethal dose—long before which vomiting would likely expel the excess. Additionally, while bananas are slightly radioactive, it would take eating 274 bananas a day for about seven years to experience acute symptoms.
Yet, the most perilous aspect of bananas might be their peel: a staple of slapstick comedy, slipping on a banana peel is no laughing matter. On July 2, 1920, a young boy in Newark, New Jersey, slipped on a banana peel at an intersection and was tragically run over by a truck. While the truck was listed as the cause of death, the banana peel played a significant role. More recently, in 2013, a man slipped on a banana peel and fell into the path of an oncoming Staten Island subway train. Concerned about this slippery yellow hazard? There’s a glimmer of hope: 99% of exported bananas are the Cavendish variety, which, while hardy, are vulnerable to a disease that could one day eradicate them.
7. Not Very A-Peeling
If slipping on fruit peel seems absurd, surely a seasoned stunt performer would avoid such a fate, right? Sadly, even the bravest among us aren’t immune to the dangers of fresh fruit. In 1911, English daredevil Bobby Leach became the second person to survive a barrel ride over Niagara Falls. Despite minor injuries, he emerged unscathed and even celebrated with a cigar. Ironically, fifteen years later, his life ended due to a simple orange peel. After slipping on one, Leach broke his leg, which became infected. Without access to antibiotics, he died during surgery.
Perhaps Whole Foods was onto something when, in 2016, they sold pre-peeled oranges in plastic packaging. Despite facing environmental criticism on social media—leading to the product’s removal—the store might have been trying to protect customers from the hazards of peeling oranges themselves.
6. Presidential Peril
Even US presidents aren’t immune to the dangers of fresh fruit. In 1850, Zachary Taylor, the 12th US President, met an untimely end after consuming cherries. Freshly elected, Taylor was celebrating on the grounds of what would later become the Washington Monument. Just five days later, at the age of 65, he passed away. Despite surviving the Mexican-American War, some believe his choice of picnic snacks led to his demise.
Doctors attributed President Taylor’s death to ‘cholera mobus,’ a condition common in an era of poor sanitation and contaminated water. The bacteria were present in both the water he drank and the water used to wash fruit. Urban legends of the time blamed his stomach cramps on consuming excessive amounts of fruit and milk together, particularly a large quantity of cherries.
5. Melancholy Melon
Fruit-related bacterial infections aren’t exclusive to presidents. Listeria, often linked to unpasteurized dairy and pre-packaged sandwiches, has also been tied to fruit. In 2011, the CDC reported 15 deaths and 72 illnesses caused by contaminated cantaloupe melons, marking it as the deadliest foodborne outbreak in the US since 1998.
In 2018, four people in New South Wales died from listeria after eating contaminated rockmelons, leading to the fruit’s removal from stores. Pregnant women are ten times more likely to contract listeria, so it’s wise to avoid melons during pregnancy.
4. Lethal Lychees
Even if something isn’t inherently toxic or contaminated with bacteria, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe. A 2017 study in The Lancet highlighted lychees as the culprit behind the poisoning of more than 100 children annually in northern India. While the fruit, encased in a spiky shell, is a delightful and exotic delicacy, unripe lychees contain hypoglicin, a toxin that can drastically lower blood sugar levels. This can alter brain function, leading to unconsciousness and, in severe cases, death.
For children already suffering from malnutrition and inadequate food intake, consuming lychees had even more devastating effects. In Muzaffarpur, northern India, half of the hospitalized victims did not survive.
3. ‘Little Apple of Death’
This fruit and its tree are so dangerous that avoiding them entirely is the best course of action. The Machineel tree, known in Spanish as ‘manazilla de la muerte’ or ‘little apple of death,’ is frequently found along Caribbean coastlines and is infamous for its lethality. The tree’s sap contains a potent irritant; mere contact with the bark or standing under it can cause harm, as can attempting to burn it. Despite its fruit’s resemblance to ripe apples, consuming it can lead to severe gastroenteritis, airway and throat swelling, and internal bleeding.
Over the centuries, numerous shipwrecked sailors have fallen victim to these so-called ‘paradise apples.’ Even Juan Ponce de Leon, the renowned European explorer of 1513, is said to have met his end due to the toxic effects of this deadly plant.
To borrow a line from Monty Python – ‘If you’re walking home tonight and a homicidal maniac chases you with a handful of loganberries, don’t come crying to me!’
2. A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts
Amidst all this talk of danger, a tropical island getaway, complete with a refreshing pina colada, might seem like the ideal escape. Picture the sun, sand, and sea – but also the risk of sudden head trauma. In 1984, a Canadian doctor returning from Papua New Guinea and Angola suggested that falling coconuts cause approximately 150 deaths annually. While his figures were speculative, such fatalities do occur. In 2010, reports surfaced that the Indian government ordered the removal of all coconuts from the Gandhi Museum in Mumbai, fearing a coconut-related incident during President Barack Obama’s visit.
Even when holding a coconut, danger isn’t entirely out of the picture. In 1923, a man from Pennsylvania attempted to crack open a coconut using the butt of his revolver. Tragically, the gun discharged, resulting in a fatal abdominal wound.
1. Enduring a Durian Attack
Avoiding exotic fruits might not always protect you from their dangers. In 2012, a Malaysian man lost his life when a basket of durian fruit fell from his motorcycle, causing severe head trauma. Known as the ‘King of Fruits’ in some areas, the durian’s spiky shell can reach up to 12 inches in size and weigh between 2 to 7 pounds.
A local Malaysian belief claims that durians have eyes and can choose where they fall, prompting warning signs near orchards advising people not to linger. Fortunately, the fruit’s overpowering smell has led to its prohibition on various forms of public transport across Asia. In Singapore, hotels and taxis often display signs banning durians. While its scent may not be deadly, its physical impact certainly can be, so it’s best to steer clear.
