The world’s first ‘non-slip’ banana

In a world first, UK supermarket Sainsbury’s has announced it will begin selling the world’s first ‘non-slip’ banana.

The banana, which aims to put an end to accident prone Brits slipping on discarded skins, comes as a result of 5 years of intense research and development by Sainsbury’s growers and food technologists.

Experts have spent years investigating what gives banana skins their slippery quality and then how to increase friction between the skin and floor.

Using a pioneering technique, normal bananas undergo a patented ‘drying out’ process in the final stage of ripening – whereby the production of oils and water within the banana skin (which gives the fruit its slippery quality) are suppressed. The drying out process involves wrapping each banana in a specially made ‘wetsuit’ – made from patented moisture wicking fabric – which draws excess oil and moisture out of the banana skins reducing its slipperiness and therefore increasing its inherent friction.

Currently over 300 banana related injuries are reported each year in the UK alone, a number which is steadily increasing. Since records began in 1948, there have even been 5 deaths as a result of people slipping on banana skins.

The banana, which aims to put an end to accident prone Brits slipping on discarded skins, comes as a result of intense research and development by Sainsbury’s. Sainsbury’s experts have spent years investigating what gives banana skins their slippery quality and how to increase friction between the skin and floor.

Currently over 300 banana related injuries are reported each year in the UK alone, a number which is steadily increasing.

Finbar Cartlidge, Sainsbury’s banana buyer said: “We’re thrilled to be the first supermarket to introduce a non-slip banana. We strongly believe in giving customers what they want and for years they have been telling us they want to enjoy a delicious banana without having the danger of slipping on the skin at the back of their mind!”

Sainsbury’s is committed to helping customers ‘Live Well for Less’ and with our revolutionary non-slip banana we’ll be improving the lives of people right across the country.”

About the banana

Using a pioneering technique, normal bananas undergo a patented drying out process in the final stage of ripening – whereby the production of oils and water within the banana skin (which gives the fruit its slippery quality) are suppressed. The drying out process involves wrapping each banana in a specially made ‘wetsuit’ – made from patented moisture wicking fabric – which draws excess oil and moisture out of the banana skins reducing its slipperiness and therefore increasing its inherent friction.

[i] www.thefactsite.com: In 2001, there were more than 300 banana-related accidents in Britain, most involving people slipping on skins.