# Bananas might be going extinct, scientist claims **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bananas-might-be-going-extinct-scientist-claims/150314 "2003-01-22T23:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bananas-might-be-going-extinct-scientist-claims/150314/1 "2003-01-22T23:53:32Z")
> **[Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines](https://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=%2Fnm%2F20030115%2Fsc_nm%2Ffood_banana_dc_1)** > > The latest news and headlines from Yahoo! News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos. NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not the sweetest and most chimpanzee-friendly fruit in the world! ☹ by the way, can anyone make sense of that last sentence in the article? I’ve read it maybe five times and it’s still baffling me. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bananas-might-be-going-extinct-scientist-claims/150314/2 "2003-01-23T00:13:09Z")
i’m a bit baffled as well. perhaps they hope to reintroduce the new, improved banana in drought afflicted parts of africa. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bananas-might-be-going-extinct-scientist-claims/150314/3 "2003-01-23T00:15:56Z")
Haven’t we already had about half a dozen threads on this topic? The story came out several weeks ago, and IIRC the consensus was that there’s really no reason to think that there’s a problem. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bananas-might-be-going-extinct-scientist-claims/150314/4 "2003-01-23T00:23:01Z")
The banana isn’t getting any? How wonderfully ironic! ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bananas-might-be-going-extinct-scientist-claims/150314/5 "2003-01-23T00:50:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*Haven’t we already had about half a dozen threads on this topic? The story came out several weeks ago, and IIRC the consensus was that there’s really no reason to think that there’s a problem. \*\* Really? Crap. I knew skimming the forums was going to catch up to me eventually. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bananas-might-be-going-extinct-scientist-claims/150314/6 "2003-01-23T01:00:24Z")
> [@](#): > > “We may even see the extinction of the banana as both a lifesaver for hungry and impoverished Africans and as the most popular product on the world’s supermarket shelves,” the magazine added. Bananas are grown in a heck of a lot more places than export to North Anerica and Europe. In parts of Africa the banana (not necessarily the Cavendish Banana on your grocer’s shelf) is a staple of every meal, and sometimes the only reliable source of certain nutrients. Also, the banana is the fastest selling item in the produce section, maybe not in the whole supermarket. The author of this study work in GM (Genetically Modified) banana research, and the Big 3 (Dole, Chiquita, and Del Monte Fresh Produce) will not support the research due to public mistrust of GM produce. Frison is using this sensationalist tactic to garner support (money) for his research. More [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=157015) about banana sex and diseases. UncleBill Del Monte Fresh Produce