Can jackfruit get you drunk? KSRTC drivers fail breath test after eating overripe fruit

Pandalam: Three drivers of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) landed in an unexpected situation after testing positive for alcohol during a routine breathalyser check—despite insisting they hadn’t consumed a drop. The twist? All three had eaten slices of jackfruit shortly before the test.

The incident, which took place at the Pandalam depot in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, left officials puzzled: should they trust the breathalyser readings or the drivers’ claims?

As one of the drivers insisted he had not consumed alcohol, the situation left the authorities in a dilemma as to should they trust the driver or the breathalyser machine?

To resolve the confusion, the authorities conducted a follow-up experiment. A staff member who had earlier tested negative was asked to eat the same jackfruit. Surprisingly, after consuming it, he too tested ‘inebriated’ in the breathalyser test. This convinced the officials that the initial results were likely false positives and that all those who tested positive were, in fact, innocent.

The jackfruit, a ‘thenvarikka’ variety known for its honey-like sweetness, was brought to the Pandalam depot by a KSRTC employee from Kottarakkara. He had brought it to share with his colleagues. One of the drivers ate the fruit before starting duty at 6 am and was flagged during the subsequent test.

Experts explain that overripe jackfruit, especially the extremely sweet varieties, can contain trace amounts of alcohol due to natural fermentation. The fruit's high glucose and fructose content accelerates the process. They also note that it is rare for jackfruit to be consumed at such a late, near-fermented stage.

This isn’t the first time food has interfered with alcohol detection. Experts note that certain foods, especially when fermented or overripe, can produce trace amounts of ethanol that may confuse sensitive breathalyser machines.

Other items known to potentially cause false positives include:

• Ripe or overripe fruits like bananas, mangoes, and durians
• Fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and idli batter
• Non-alcoholic beer or mouthwash that contains trace alcohol
• Vinegar-rich dishes or foods cooked with alcohol
• Protein bars or energy drinks that include sugar alcohols or fermentation byproducts

In most cases, the effect is temporary and minor, but as this KSRTC incident shows, it can still create a moment of confusion—especially in zero-tolerance settings like public transport services.