Rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage are just a few of the typical parallels for the stench of durian, the world’s stinkiest fruit. The bizarre, spiked fruit, native to Borneo and Sumatra, is the most divisive of Marmites in that while some people adore its strong odor and sweet flavor, others are so repulsed by it that they fear a chemical threat has been unleashed, which is exactly what happened last week in a Bavarian post office.
A suspicious, fragrant item was identified when post office workers in Schweinfurt, Germany, reported feeling ill after breathing in “fumes.” The possibly dangerous material drew a large number of emergency response teams, including police, firemen, and emergency services. According to Bayerischer Rundfunk, twelve postal workers were treated on the spot for nausea, and six were taken to obtain medical assistance. Sixty people were evacuated from the building as concerns grew that the property was leaking a hazardous material.
“Because of the unknown content, it was first unclear if the suspicious item constituted a bigger risk,” a representative for the Schweinfurt police department told CNN.
The cops bravely investigated the gift, only to discover that the strong odor was not the product of some dangerous gas, but rather the aroma of the famed durian. The item was a consignment of Thai durian fruits delivered by a friend to a 50-year-old Nuremberg resident who is said to have now received the offensive present.
Durian is well recognized for its overpowering aroma, and tourists around Asia may be familiar with boards displaying that the spiky fruit is prohibited in many hotels, hostels, and onboard public transportation (if only we could get the same protection for egg and cress sandwiches in the UK). This isn’t the first time its expensive perfume has generated concerns about a dangerous gas leak. A library in Melbourne, Australia, was evacuated in 2018 only to discover that a durian snack was to blame.
While it may appear to be an unappealing alternative, durian is gaining popularity among Chinese customers and represents a valuable commerce in Thailand. There are 200 different durian cultivars, each with a unique aroma and flavor, that have been reinterpreted and can now be found in cakes, ice cream, and even pizza. However, unless you want to wind up in the microwaved fish consumer hall of shame, we recommend skipping the durian.
[H/T: The Guardian]
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