Exposing the Myth: Misleading Social Media Posts About Drinking Cold Beverages After Eating Mangoes

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Considering the potential for allergic reactions and adverse effects from different foods is important for maintaining health. However, much of the content available on the internet about food allergies and dangerous food combinations can be misleading. It's crucial to rely on scientifically-backed information and consult healthcare professionals for accurate advice, rather than falling prey to sensational or anecdotal claims. Misleading information can cause unnecessary fear and lead to poor dietary choices.

Social Media Posts

Posts on Facebook in Sinhala language have been widely shared in Sri Lanka, alleging that consuming cold drinks after eating mangoes can be fatal. These posts mention a supposed incident where tourists in Chandigarh, India, died after such consumption.

FB|Archived

The post says ,

“Do you also like to eat mangoes?

Please be cautious and avoid drinking soft drinks immediately after eating mangoes. A few days ago, a group of tourists visited Chandinagar in India. They ate mangoes and then drank cold drinks right away. Unfortunately, they all became very sick, fainted, and tragically died upon being admitted to the hospital.

Doctors warn that consuming soft drinks right after eating mangoes can be dangerous. The citric acid in mangoes and the organic acids in soft drinks can combine to form harmful toxins.”

It's viral in WhatsApp also.

We decided to do a fact check on this.

Fact Check

Search for Official Reports and Incidents:

Fact Crescendo could not find any official reports of deaths following the consumption of cold drinks and mangoes in Chandigarh.

This misinformation had previously circulated in other countries, including Bangladesh and India.Further searches revealed international fact checks debunked this claim already.

What Experts in Other Countries Say.

Dr. Taufique Joarder, Vice Chairperson of the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh, told AFP that the claim is "baseless," indicating no scientific reason for fatalities from this combination unless the items were contaminated with poison .

Nazma Shaheen, Professor at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science at Dhaka University, confirmed to AFP that there is no substantial evidence to suggest such a dangerous reaction from mixing mangoes and cold drinks .AFP Fact Check can be reached here.Archived

In an article by the Indian Express, Karishma Shah, an integrative nutritionist and health coach, explained that while consuming aerated drinks immediately after eating fruits might cause digestive discomfort, it is not lethal. She emphasized avoiding aerated drinks right after eating to prevent gastric issues but dismissed the fatality claim as extreme and unsupported .Indian Express article can be read here. Archived

Dr.Damean De Silva- Founding Secretary of SLMNA

Dr. Damean De Silva, founding secretary of the Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association (SLMNA), stated that there are no scientific studies supporting the claim, labeling the post as lacking any scientific basis.

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Conclusion

The viral posts claiming that consuming cold drinks after eating mangoes can be deadly are unfounded and lack scientific evidence. Experts have clarified that while mixing these might cause minor digestive discomfort for some people, it is not lethal. This misinformation appears to have spread internationally without any credible backing.No evidence to prove such an incident really occurred in Chandinagar in India.