Tag: Plantain safety

Plantains are a starchy fruit similar to bananas, but consuming a raw plantain, especially an unripe one, is strongly discouraged due to digestive distress. Unlike sweet bananas, plantains possess a higher starch content that makes them unpalatable and difficult to digest without proper cooking.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, plantain is a staple food for over 70 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is consumed at all stages of ripeness. This nutritional versatility often leads to the question: is it safe to eat overripe plantains, particularly when their peels turn completely black?