Health Dialogues

Too Much Jackfruit? Kerala Driver Fails Alcohol Test Before Duty—Here’s Why

A bus driver in Kerala landed in trouble after failing a breathalyzer test—despite not touching a drop of alcohol. The reason? Jackfruit.
A Sweet Gesture Turns Sour
At the Pandalam KSRTC depot, a driver shared jackfruits from his home with fellow employees. One driver enjoyed a little too much before his shift.
As part of pre-duty checks, the driver took a breathalyzer test. To his shock, the machine showed a reading of 10—well above zero.
“I Didn’t Drink!” Says Driver
The driver insisted he hadn’t consumed alcohol and demanded a blood test. But he wasn’t alone—three others also failed the breath test.
To investigate, the testing official tried the breathalyzer himself—first with no food, then after eating jackfruit. The result? A false positive.
Confirmed: Jackfruit Was the Culprit
It was confirmed that compounds in the jackfruit interfered with the breathalyzer, mimicking alcohol in the test. No alcohol was involved.
This bizarre incident highlights how certain foods can affect breathalyser results—and the importance of verifying unusual readings.
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