A video of a young boy unwrapping a small Christmas gift went viral in a big way a few years ago. It's easy to see why too, it's adorable. The toddler opens up his gift and finds an avocado instead of an amazing toy. Unperturbed he exclaims "An avocado. Mine!"
It's so cute.
The Christmas avocado was a big hit, but the FDA is warning other Americans about ingesting avocados over the holidays.
A report conducted between 2014 and 2016 found high numbers of Listeria monocytogenes . About one in five avocados was contaminated with the dangerous bacteria.
The bacteria leads to a condition called listeriosis, which about 1600 Americans get each year. Over 250 people die every year from the dangerous food poisoning.
The report found that washing the outsides of the avocado and drying it before cutting in to it stops the contamination. Many people think that, since they aren't eating the outside, that they don't need to wash it. Nothing is further from the truth.
[H/T AJC]
You may not plan on giving away an avocado as a gift, but if you're using it for a meal make sure to follow the FDA's instructions.