Can You Eat Fruit with Citrus Canker? A Comprehensive Guide

December 5, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, fruit infected with citrus canker is safe for human consumption. This common bacterial disease affects the leaves, stems, and outer rind of citrus fruit, but poses no risk to humans or animals. However, the presence of these unsightly lesions makes the fruit unmarketable for commercial sale.

Quick Summary

Despite its unappealing appearance, citrus fruit affected by canker is perfectly safe to consume. The disease is caused by a plant-specific bacterium that does not pose any health risks to humans. While the lesions affect the fruit's skin, the inside remains unharmed, allowing for home consumption. It is important to prevent the spread of the contagious bacteria in your garden.

Key Points

Canker is not a human health risk: The bacteria causing citrus canker is only harmful to citrus plants and does not affect human health.
Interior fruit is safe to eat: The blemishes on the fruit's exterior do not penetrate the rind, leaving the pulp and juice safe for consumption.
Impact is mainly cosmetic: The primary effect of the disease is cosmetic damage, which renders the fruit unmarketable commercially but perfectly edible for home use.
Practice good sanitation: To prevent the spread of the highly contagious bacteria, you should thoroughly disinfect any tools or equipment used on infected trees.
Properly dispose of infected material: Do not move infected plant material or fruit to new areas, as this contributes to the disease's rapid spread.
Wash fruit before peeling: For hygiene, always wash the outside of any citrus fruit, including those with canker, before peeling to prepare for consumption.

Understanding the Citrus Canker Bacterium

Citrus canker is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, a pathogen that specifically targets citrus plants. It causes raised, tan-colored lesions on leaves, stems, and fruit, often surrounded by a yellow 'halo'. These lesions ooze bacterial cells that are then spread by wind-driven rain, contaminated equipment, or people. The disease's impact is primarily cosmetic and horticultural, not a food safety issue for humans.

How the Bacterium Affects the Plant

While harmless to people, citrus canker has a significant and detrimental impact on citrus trees. The infection can cause premature leaf and fruit drop, resulting in reduced yields and overall tree vitality. For home gardeners, this means a diminished harvest and a weakened tree. For commercial growers, the disease is an economic catastrophe, as infected fruit is deemed unmarketable due to its poor appearance. This is why there are strict quarantine measures in place in affected areas to prevent the spread of the bacteria.

The Human and Animal Safety Factor

Numerous agricultural and governmental bodies confirm that citrus canker is not a human or animal health threat. The bacteria is not harmful to any living organism outside of citrus and certain other plant species. This means that while the fruit's exterior is compromised, the pulp and juice inside are completely safe to consume. For home gardeners, this is good news, as you can still enjoy your harvest, even if it doesn't look perfect. The key is to wash the fruit thoroughly and enjoy the unaffected interior.

Comparison of Canker-Infected vs. Healthy Fruit


Aspect	Canker-Infected Fruit	Healthy Fruit
Appearance	Unsightly, raised, brown lesions often with a yellow halo on the rind.	Smooth, unblemished skin, consistent with the specific citrus variety.
Internal Quality	The internal pulp, juice, and segments are typically unaffected in taste and safety.	High quality, flavorful pulp and juice.
Marketability	Not fit for fresh fruit market sales due to cosmetic damage.	Ideal for commercial sale and export.
Harvest Yield	Trees may experience premature fruit drop, reducing the overall harvest.	Stable, healthy yields with optimal fruit retention.
Flavor	The bacteria does not penetrate the rind and alter the flavor of the juice or pulp.	Expected flavor profile for the fruit variety.

Practical Steps for Handling Cankered Fruit

If you have a citrus tree with canker in your backyard, you can still enjoy the fruit safely by following a few simple steps:

Harvest the fruit: Don't let the visual blemishes discourage you. The inside is still good to eat.
Wash thoroughly: Before peeling or cutting, wash the fruit's surface with clean water to remove any surface bacteria. Although harmless to people, this is a standard hygiene practice.
Enjoy the unaffected interior: Peel the fruit and discard the blemished rind. The delicious and healthy fruit inside can be enjoyed as usual.
Do not share or sell: Because the bacteria is highly contagious and spreads easily, do not give away or sell infected fruit to others. Confine its consumption to your own household.
Sanitize equipment: If you use pruning tools, ensure they are properly disinfected after use to prevent spreading the bacteria to other trees.

Avoiding the Spread of Citrus Canker

Preventing the spread of this disease is a crucial step for both your garden and the wider citrus industry. Citrus canker bacteria are extremely persistent and can survive for months on plant surfaces and equipment. Key preventative measures include:

Buying certified citrus plants from reputable nurseries.
Not moving infected or potentially exposed plant material off your property.
Disinfecting all tools and equipment, especially after working on an infected tree.
Avoiding working with citrus trees when they are wet, as moisture aids in the spread of the bacteria.

Conclusion

The good news for home gardeners is that you can eat fruit with citrus canker. The bacterial infection, while damaging to the tree and the fruit's appearance, does not compromise the edibility or safety of the fruit's interior. By understanding that the disease is a plant-specific issue, you can confidently harvest and enjoy your citrus. Remember to take careful sanitation steps to prevent further spread in your own garden and wider community. The unfortunate reality for commercial growers, however, is that the unappealing blemishes render the fruit unmarketable, underscoring the disease's significant economic impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, citrus canker does not affect the taste or flavor of the fruit's interior. The bacterium only affects the outer rind, leaving the pulp and juice completely unchanged and delicious.

Citrus canker is a bacterial disease that causes lesions on leaves and fruit, but does not harm humans. Citrus greening, or HLB, is a different bacterial disease transmitted by an insect and causes mottled leaves, misshapen fruit, and can taste bitter. Canker-infected fruit is edible, while greening-infected fruit is not and leads to eventual tree death.

Yes, you can safely make juice from canker-infected citrus fruit. The bacteria are limited to the rind, and the juice inside is perfectly fine. Just be sure to wash the fruit thoroughly before juicing.

Canker-infected fruit is not sold commercially because its unsightly appearance makes it unmarketable. Customers expect visually perfect fruit, and the blemishes from canker do not meet market quality standards.

You can identify citrus canker by the brown, raised lesions that appear on leaves, stems, and fruit. These lesions are often surrounded by a characteristic yellow 'halo'.

The bacterium is highly contagious and spreads easily to other citrus plants via wind-driven rain, contaminated tools, or movement of infected material. It does not affect non-citrus plants.

No, it is not recommended to compost infected plant material. The bacteria can survive in debris and soil. Instead, dispose of infected leaves and fruit in sealed bags with your regular trash to prevent spreading.