What started out a few weeks ago as a rumor on the internet about bananas has grown into a major problem for some U. S. and Virgin Islands businesses that import bananas from Central America.
In the last few weeks, an e-mail began showing up warning banana consumers of a flesh-eating parasite found in shipments of Central American bananas reaching the U.S. According to the message, the effects are so horrible that people should refrain from eating the major brands.
For Vincent Richards, an owner of Sam's food distributors, which brings Central American bananas into the Virgin Islands, the effect has been killing his business.
"I'm getting constant calls from wholesalers and the supermarkets with concerns based on what they hear from consumers about this parasite," he said, adding that some wholesalers themselves have grown leery about the bananas because of the internet rumor.
The e-mail warning about Central American bananas claims that U.S. public health officials know about the flesh-eating parasite but have issued no warnings so as not to cause a public panic. But Richards said there is absolutely nothing harmful about the popular fruit which he has continued to eat.
"There is absolutely no truth to the rumor," he said.
Richards said he, his family and friends all eat bananas and have seen no adverse effects. "I would not allow a questionable product to go on the market in any way, shape or form," he added.
According to Richards, the large exporters of bananas have their suspicions about why such an industry-threatening rumor may have been started, given the international trade war over preference for bananas produced by countries affiliated with the European Union and those produced outside the E.U.
"I have spoken to my suppliers in Central America and they have their suspicions but nothing is definitive in terms of who and why the rumor was started," Richards said.
The local businessman said it is not just his company being adversely affected by the public doubts raised by the parasite rumor. "The communications director at Dole also confirmed for me that they are feeling the effects of the rumor both nationally and internationally." Richards added that the "rumor has been passed on like a plague as far as I'm concerned."
To date, there have been no reported cases of any adverse effects caused by banana consumption, regardless of the origin of the product.
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