Saw a post today on Bravenet forum about an alert for bananas containing the fast moving, flesh eating bacteria. The bananas are from Costa Rica. The post seemed sincere... The CDC is hesitating to make an announcement to avoid panic, etc. Anyone heard?

-- King of Free Estimates (your@town.USA), February 08, 2000

Answers

I got it by email to (the info, not the disease :-) ) Problem a new urban legend.

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), February 08, 2000.

Fingers moving faster than brain - "problem" should be "probably" new urban legend.

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), February 08, 2000.

the flesh eating bacteria is not something you catch. You have it now. The medical minds do not yet know what triggers this bacteria into a flesh eating mode.

So do not worry about bananas. You will need the potassium.

Messa Bananas over shortcake.
Saute 5 bananas in butter after first slicing through the length.
YOu will want a medium hot heat. Sear the bananas until lightly brown. At that point sprinkle two tablespoons of brown sugar on the bananas. Carmelize and dump the whole mess over the shortcake. Add vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Ummm. Tummy says dinner is calling.

-- pliney the younger (pliney@puget.sound.hard.rain), February 08, 2000.

Somewhat related:

Imported vs. domestically produced fruits and vegetables, is there a difference in food safety?

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 08, 2000.

Thanks, OG--very interesting.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), February 08, 2000.

I just ate one and am still looking good and now one of the bunch.

-- Mike (me@ham.com), February 08, 2000.

Ahhh Man!!! Someone else Has to do the research on this task! I am stretched to the max in the p.m. hours searching out truth, separation and verification about the effects of Fluoride, Aspartame, Chemtrails and the claim the AIDS virus was human invented. And I can't dispute any of it until I have gathered enough information. Just let me say this about that from what I have seen and experienced. A clear morning: add planes with those trails, shortly, the cloud cover appears. Other same temperature days, planes with no trails=no clouds.Please excuse me if I sound short, because I am in the middle of doing my own experiments, to see if any of the claims can be proven, true.

-- Diet (Cokewithdr@wal.com), February 08, 2000.

While we are on the subject of bananas. Is there a recipe for dried bannas used in making banana bread. I have stored away lots of dried bananas, but would like to use some of them in cooking if it is at all possible. do you soak them in water first or what??

-- Ga Boling (Wilber@montanasky.net), February 08, 2000.

Sometimes a banana is just a banana...

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), February 08, 2000.

And sometimes they are elected President of the United States.

-- Squid (ItsDark@down.here), February 08, 2000.

Try this link:

Bananas

Interesting site:

Urban Legends

Hope this helps and keeps some from needless worrying.

Steve

-- Steve (sron123@aol.com), February 08, 2000.

I'm Chiquita Banana and I've come to eat
All your muscles, nerves and skin will make a tasty treat!

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), February 08, 2000.

David, you old Mon,we make light while there is an under-current for those who have eyes and ears. No Holy Roller, still on kicking Diet Coke which one additive is put into roach killer and paint, so I have read. Do you think it is the color that makes Industry add this product? I could surmise not, that a roach gives a hoot about color. Do our homework.Told you earlier, I am "Testy" on this. I have known the thirst for Diet, and it was more supreme than nicotine.

-- Diet (Cokewithdr@wal.com), February 08, 2000.

Diet, Have a cup of coffee or two. Maybe it'll help, considering you could be addicted to the coffee, and not the other ahem ingredients.

Hope you feel better soon

-- (formerly@nowhere.zzz), February 08, 2000.

Oh Dang! I meant addicted to caffeine. Oh and David, singing the little chiquita song, thanks for the laugh!

-- (formerly@nowhere.zzz), February 08, 2000.

Diet- I went back to regular Coke some weeks ago after reading about asparatame. Well, last night while chomping a bagel one of my teeth just fell apart. So I present to you this dilemna; toothless or pickled, which is the lesser of the evils?

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), February 09, 2000.

You Bufoons, you would not, could not, see an industry additive, if it perched it's self on your nose. Advised you I am going through withdrawal.

-- Diet (Cokewithdr@wl.com), February 09, 2000.

What's that you say? I can't hear you, I've got a banana in my ear!

-- Chester Berrlow (chester@chiquita.com), February 09, 2000.

Well, this is a fine example of common sense, gone to Hell, in a hand basket. How much research have you done, Sludge?

-- Diet (cokewithdr@wal.com), February 09, 2000.

I'll respond "officially" (notice my email address, and no disclaimers below): The bananas/flesh-eating bacteria thing is an *urban legend*, period.

Cheers,

--Andre Weltman, M.D., M.Sc. Division of Communicable Disease Epidemiology Pennsylvania Department of Health

-- Andre Weltman (aweltman@health.state.pa.us), February 09, 2000.

Diet,
On the subjects of fluoridation and AIDS, I'd recommend the books of John Yiamouyiannis (his AIDS book was co-authored by Peter Duesburg).

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), February 09, 2000.