09/08/2025
Interesting fact! I love mangoes. 🥭
In 1939, a woman bit into a mango and within hours, her lips began to blister and swell.
Doctors were initially puzzled, but they soon realized her reaction looked identical to poison ivy dermatitis. This case helped uncover a strange botanical mystery: mangoes are related to poison ivy. 🥭
Both plants, along with poison oak and sumac, belong to the same family and produce an oily compound called urushiol.
In mangoes, the urushiol is concentrated in the skin, sap, and even the leaves and stem. The fruit pulp itself is generally safe to eat.
For people who are sensitive to poison ivy, handling a mango can trigger the same kind of itchy, blistering rash. The reaction can appear hours or even days later, making it hard to connect the dots.
A study in 2005 confirmed this link when 17 Americans with known poison ivy allergies developed rashes after their first time handling mangoes.
Interestingly, not everyone who is allergic to poison ivy will react to mango skin. Some scientists believe that people who grow up in areas where mangoes are common may develop a tolerance over time from small, regular exposure. 🤔
So while the fruit is a wonderful treat, its skin holds a well-documented secret that can cause a lot of discomfort for the unsuspecting.
