Everyone buying bananas warned to ‘shake them’ before eating

Everyone buying bananas in September is being urged to ‘shake them’ before eating – for a horrifying reason.

It’s rare, but it’s not unheard of for bananas to hide a stowaway thanks to the tropical climate they’re grown in, and the fact that banana farmers don’t use pesticides as there’s no need due to a banana’s ready made skin protecting them from insects.

For these reasons, a bunch of bananas can hide a very scary hitchhiker: a giant, invasive spider.

The National Centre for Reptile Welfare says: “Spiders and other invertebrates may very uncommonly be found in bunches of bananas, with small lizards and amphibians also being encountered.

“Most banana plantations are organic and do not use pesticides, which can lead to rare occasions when stowaways may be encountered in produce in the UK.”

Stowaway spiders are unlikely to be domestic UK species and in fact, could be a foreign, much more threatening type of arachnid.

It continues: “Whilst it is extremely unlikely that any stowaways are harmful to you or your pets, it is possible so always use caution. If you find a spider or other animal DO NOT TOUCH IT. If the bananas or fruit are already bagged then place this into another plastic bag such as a bin liner for example, or into a plastic box with a secure lid.

“Contact the NCRW and we will advise you on what to do next. It is a legal requirement that you report the findings to someone, as there are legal implications for vertebrates under the Animal Welfare Act.”

If you don’t find a living spider, you can sometimes encounter an egg sac or cocoon on a banana. This looks like a white fluffy splodge, a bit like candy floss.

You can safely remove these spider eggs but you must then put the eggs into a bag – like a sandwich bag – and freeze them for 24 hours, which will kill the eggs off.

Although it’s unlikely that the spiders you find on your bananas will be dangerous, there’s always a chance.

The NCRW adds: “The story often portrayed in the media that these are Brazilian Wandering Spiders is grossly misleading, it is in fact extremely rare that this is the case. It is, however, important not to take any risks.”