Bananas With Spotted Skin Contain Anti Cancer Compounds? Experts Reveal Facts

Banana illustration (Pexels/Aleksandar Pasaric)

JAKARTA - Recently, it has been busy on social media regarding uploads about bananas with black brown spots on their skin containing anticancer compounds. Bananas with speckled skin are usually in too mature condition.

In the viral upload, it is explained that bananas with brown or black spotted skin contain Tumorhirsis Factor (TNF), which is a substance that is claimed to be able to fight cancer cells.

It was also stated that the more black spots on banana peels, the higher the TNF content will also be.

Japanese researchers say ripe bananas contain TNFs that fight abnormal cells such as cancer cells. These cells will improve your immune system," the village said, quoted from AFP, on Monday, October 27, 2025.

However, after being checked in the study quoted in the upload, it turned out that researchers did not recommend increasing the consumption of bananas too ripe or whose skin was spotted.

Biological lecturer at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, Jessada Denduangboripat, said that the TNF was not found in plants. TNF is only found in mammalian immune systems, so information related to spotted bananas contains anti-cancer compounds that are not true.

"This is an old hoax that is not true," said Jessada.

Bananas with black spots or too ripe actually contain higher sugar and starch. Overwhelmed banana consumption can trigger health problems, one of which is obesity.

Therefore, the recommended banana consumption is still yellow but still slightly green. Bananas with these characteristics do not contain starch or sugar as high as a banana with black or brown spotted skin.