This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

'Avocado Hand' Is Real And It Can Land You In The Emergency Room

'Avocado Hand' Is Real And It Can Land You In The Emergency Room

Hold on to your toast, brunch lovers. This news will guac you to your core.

After an uptick in avocado cutting injuries ― referred to as “avocado hand” by doctors ― the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons is helping warn people to be extra careful when slicing the oh-so-instagrammable fruit.

This “global phenomenon” can happen if a person doesn’t realize how ripe their avocado is when cutting through it, Simon Eccles, BAPRAS secretary and former president of the plastic surgery section of the Royal Society of Medicine, told The Times of London.

Accidentally slicing yourself instead of your avocado can cause serious damage to nerves and tendons in the hand, with some patients reportedly never regaining full use of their hand. Eccles said he treats about four patients a week for avocado hand and his hospital even experiences a “post-brunch surge” on Saturdays.

Contrary to some reports, BAPRAS has not specifically called for safety labels on avocados, the organization told HuffPost. But they are “alerting people to the potential risk of hurting oneself when preparing an avocado,” and recommend folks are especially careful when trying to remove avocado pits.

Not even superhuman Meryl Streep is safe from this scourge. She was seen wearing a bandage after falling victim to avocado hand in 2012, and reportedly had to get stitches before undergoing surgery as a result of her injury.

Avocado hand comes for us all.
Charles Eshelman via Getty Images
Avocado hand comes for us all.

There’s no shortage of “you’re cutting avocados wrong” fodder out there, but this warning from BAPRAS is one we can get behind. After all, the emergency room doesn’t seem like the most ideal place to rack up likes for that gorgeous avocado toast.

We wonder how staff have fared at Brooklyn’s all-avocado restaurant. If nothing else, this might be a good reason to take a break from good old ‘cados. They are at their highest price point in 19 years.