I was in the supermarket a couple of years ago.....
perusing the fruit to make my selection. There was a sweet little old lady next to me who suddenly said "The bananas are smelly today" to which I replied "Yes they are a little" and then she retorted "It's because of those darkies that pack them you know" - Bless her !
( paranoiaman, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 12:07, 5 replies)

I have noticed this.
And been on the verge of complaining to tesco about it.
Not, you understand that darkies packed them, but that some bananas do have a very odd whiff.
More old sock than banana.
(speedevil, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 15:59, closed)

They blast them with chemicals.
to kill spiders and bugs and to stop the bananas naturally releasing a chemical they have that ripens other fruit.

Trufax!!
(FartThroughAWalkieTalkie wished you were dead in ditch on, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 18:37, closed)

And they blast them with gamma radiation too, to kill off any bacteria or microorganisms that could cause spoilage (or maybe not in this case.)
But neither process on its own would leave any residue that makes them smell like old socks.

OP, were these "organic" bananas?

As opposed to those inorganic bananas you get that are made of cast iron and sand.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 19:28, closed)

Presumably this is why we get large green bananas.

(Pie of Meat ___°¬¯O¯____\o/_____/\_,____Y¯¯Y, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 21:04, closed)

Sounds like bacterial contamination.
Not necessarily a harmful one, mind.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Tue 26 Feb 2013, 19:00, closed)