Why Are They Harvesting Papaya Milk?

Ever wondered why they are slashing the skin of these papaya fruits? Is this white liquid some kind of vegan milk? You see, that milky sap contains a proteolytic enzyme called papain. This latex is extracted only from immature fruits because ripe ones don't have it. The fruit should be tapped in the morning, during a period of high humidity, to ensure a high latex yield.

Papain can be potentially dangerous. As an enzyme that dissolves protein, so direct contact with the skin can cause burning or allergic reactions. Once processed, papain has a variety of uses, including the preparation of vaccines, de-worming cattle, tanning leather, and use in facial masks in cosmetics.

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