An American emergency room doctor has warned people to be cautious when slicing avocados, as a growing number of injuries linked to the fruit continue to send people to hospital.
Dr Joe Whittington, who has over 2.2 million followers on social media, shared a viral video demonstrating the safest way to remove an avocado pit, after seeing many patients end up in the emergency room with deep cuts and even severed tendons.
" 'Avocado hand' is a real thing. You crave some guac but end up with stitches," he said in the clip.
According to a study cited by Dr Whittington, around 8,900 people in the United States (US) were treated in emergency departments in a single year after injuring themselves while trying to remove the pit.
"The danger usually comes when people try to stab the pit to pull it out and miss, driving the knife into their hand," he explained.
To prevent such accidents, Dr Whittington advised home cooks to grip the knife correctly.
"Hold the blade near the base, close to the handle, with your index finger and thumb forming a small wedge of blade. Use that wedge to strike the pit gently, twist to loosen it, and lift it out safely," he said.
The doctor’s kitchen safety tip has drawn widespread attention online, earning thousands of views across TikTok and Instagram.
Many users praised his demonstration, thanking him for potentially saving them from painful, and costly mistakes.
"I’m Mexican, so I had no idea this was an actual danger," one viewer joked.
Another suggested pushing the pit from behind with both thumbs instead of using a knife, while a third wrote, "I just use a spoon. It's safer and easier."
Experts have also weighed in on another avocado controversy; browning flesh.
Food scientists say that a brown avocado isn’t necessarily bad, insisting that it’s safe to eat for up to two days.
Matthew Fatino, a subtropical crops specialist at the University of California, told LiveScience that the browning process is caused by oxidation, the same reaction that turns sliced apples or bananas brown.
"When you cut an avocado, oxygen reacts with enzymes in the fruit's cells, producing melanin, the pigment responsible for the brown colour. It’s mostly cosmetic for the first day or two," Fatino explained
However, after a few days, the fats in the fruit begin to oxidise and turn rancid, giving it a bitter or "soapy" taste.
"It won’t make you ill. but it won’t taste very nice either," Fatino said.
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