The Ministries of Agriculture and Health have reacted to a video being circulated on social media and which lists the top five most dangerous fruits in the Caribbean, including Saint Lucia. Officials at the two departments who spoke off the record on the matter have dismissed the allegations made in the video and say Saint Lucians have nothing to fear.
The five fruits highlighted in the six minute video are the star fruit or five fingers, papaya or paw paw, mango, avocado and sugar apple. According to the video they are the most dangerous fruits in the region.
According to the video, when consumed, the star fruit or five finger fruit leaves a poisonous substance in the stomach which will affect the body’s main organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and brain. It claims that between 2001 and 2018 the fruit has been linked to at least 65 deaths.
The video goes on to state that the pulp from the sugar apple fruit consists of neurotoxins which induce muscle paralysis and is responsible for at least 5000 deaths annually
The papaya or paw paw and the avocado are said to be highly cancerous and cause internal bleeding, blistering and diarrhea. They have been blamed for causing an estimated 35000 deaths annually.
In the video, the mango is described as the fastest killing fruit in the Caribbean, credited for over 600,000 deaths in the region.
Although the origin of the video is unknown, agriculture officials believe this could be a strategy to destroy local and regional agriculture industries and exports.
The two departments are expected to issue a statement on the matter by next week.
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