Popular YouTuber Gaurav Taneja, widely known as Flying Beast, has triggered widespread concern on social media after sharing a video showing a watermelon oozing thick foam from the inside.
In his latest vlog titled “Tarbooz Mein Nikala Zeher (Poison found in watermelon)”, Taneja revealed that the fruit was bought by his wife, Ritu, from a local vendor as a late-night snack. However, what appeared to be a normal watermelon soon turned into a disturbing discovery the following morning.
According to Taneja, the watermelon had been left outside on the kitchen counter overnight because there was no space available in the refrigerator. By morning, the fruit had reportedly started releasing foam continuously.
“Even after I returned from the pooja around 9:45 am, the watermelon was still foaming,” Taneja said in the vlog.
He further added:
“It was then that Ritu told me that the watermelon had been foaming since morning.”
Vendor Claims Gas Formation Caused Foaming
After the unusual reaction continued late into the night, Taneja decided to take the watermelon back to the vendor who sold it.
The shopkeeper reportedly denied using any harmful chemicals on the fruit and suggested that gas formation inside the watermelon may have caused the foaming reaction.
The viral video has already crossed over 200,000 views, with social media users flooding the comments section with theories and safety concerns.
Internet Users Debate Possible Cause
While several viewers feared the watermelon may have contained excessive pesticides or harmful chemicals, others pointed towards natural fermentation caused by extreme summer heat.
One user commented:
“A foaming watermelon is rapidly fermenting and rotting internally, often due to high heat, damage, or bacterial infection, and should never be eaten.”
Another user explained:
“That’s internal fermentation caused by bacteria. In hot weather, bacteria break down the sugar and cause this fermentation.”
A third added:
“It was kept at a high temperature for too long. Always store fruits in the refrigerator. Bacterial growth happened inside the fruit, due to which it fermented from the inside, which is why there was gas buildup.”
Viral Video Comes Amid Mumbai Watermelon Poisoning Case
The timing of Taneja’s video has drawn even more attention because it surfaced shortly after a shocking watermelon poisoning case in Mumbai.
In the incident, four members of a family reportedly died after consuming watermelon. Initial suspicions pointed towards food poisoning, but forensic investigations later confirmed the presence of zinc phosphide — a highly toxic chemical commonly used in rat poison.
Authorities reportedly detected traces of the substance both in the victims’ bodies and in the watermelon they had consumed.
Investigators are currently examining whether the chemical entered the fruit accidentally or was deliberately injected.
Can Watermelons Foam Naturally?
Food experts and several online users have pointed out that watermelons can sometimes ferment naturally when exposed to excessive heat for long periods. Internal bacterial growth can cause gas buildup, resulting in foaming, cracking, or unusual smells.
However, experts also warn that any fruit showing signs of foaming, bubbling, or rapid spoilage should be discarded immediately and never consumed.