Can you eat the raw noni fruit?

The noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) is a small, bumpy fruit that is native to Southeast Asia. It has a strong, unpleasant odor and a bitter taste. While the noni fruit is sometimes used in traditional medicine, it is not generally considered to be safe to eat raw.

The unripe noni fruit contains high levels of a compound called annonacin, which can cause neurological damage in humans. Annonacin levels decrease as the fruit ripens, but even ripe noni fruits may contain traces of annonacin. In addition, the noni fruit contains other compounds that may cause stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea.

It is best to only consume noni fruit if it has been processed to remove annonacin. Processed noni fruit can be found in the form of juice, smoothies, and supplements.