A discolored banana that appeared to contain blood frightened a Missouri resident who reported it to police Tuesday morning.

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The caller told investigators their nephew had eaten a banana that contained what looked like blood and that they believed someone may have injected blood into the fruit, according to KSHB-TV.

A team of technicians descended on a Hy-Vee store in Independence where the banana was purchased to conduct tests.

Referring to the “suspicious banana call,” Independence police said in a social media post that “preliminary tests did not detect the presence of blood in the banana.”

The store removed all bananas as a precaution and worked with investigators on the testing, KSHB reported.

"This incident is still under investigation but the discoloration is believed to be related to a produce-related fungus that can occasionally show up in bananas," police said, according to the news station.

The banana will be sent to a lab for more testing, but it’s possible the discoloration is related to a fungus.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said there are a number of plant diseases that can cause red discoloration on the inside of the fruit, but that none pose a risk to humans.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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