Lychees, with their spiky outer shell and sweet, creamy flesh, are gaining popularity alongside tropical favourites like mangoes, pineapples, and coconuts.
While not a staple like the humble apple, these fruits can be spotted in supermarkets, smoothies, and cocktails when in season.
But few may realise that these tasty treats carry a hidden hazard — unripe lychees can be poisonous.This severe risk came into the spotlight following the chilling deaths of around 100 children in Northern India, which instigated widespread concerns about the fruit's safety.
CNN Health reported cases where children were falling ill with fever, convulsions, and seizures; investigations pointed to toxins in unripe lychees as the probable cause.A study reported in The Lancet by US and Indian researchers examined 390 patients, with 122 fatalities, and determined a linkage between the consumption of lychees and these tragic losses.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk