In an unusual turn of events, three Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) drivers at the Pandalam depot faced false accusations of drink-driving—all thanks to an overly ripe jackfruit.
During a routine morning breathalyser check last week, the device detected a blood alcohol level of 10, above the legal threshold. Shocked, the drivers asserted that they had not consumed any alcohol.
With no signs of intoxication, attention shifted to a strongly aromatic jackfruit brought in from Kottarakara by one of the drivers. The fermenting sugars in the ripe fruit were suspected to have triggered the misleading results.
To test the theory, officials conducted an experiment: a driver who previously passed the test was asked to eat some jackfruit. Shortly after, the breathalyser once again flashed positive, despite the absence of any alcoholic intake.
The incident revealed how fermented fruit vapours can mimic alcohol presence in breath analysis devices, offering a rare case where a tropical fruit skewed scientific readings.
Officials later confirmed that the drivers were not under the influence, and the case was dismissed. The episode, however, highlighted a quirky but critical flaw in breathalyser reliability when faced with fermentation-prone foods.
While no disciplinary action was taken, the incident served up a slice of science, surprise, and jackfruit-induced confusion.