MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Animals at the Melbourne Zoo are dealing with obesity and bad teeth, thanks to a fruit-heavy diet that's chock full of sugar.<br /><br />Fruits may be a vital component to a healthy human diet, according to an Australian government report, but the same cannot be said for animals, who are getting serious problems after a trip on the fruit train, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.<br /><br />The problem is that cultivated fruits have been genetically modified to be sweeter than their wild counterparts.<br /><br />Some, like plums, have nearly double the sugar level nature intended.<br /><br />Animals love the sugary treats, but end up eating only those and nothing else, which not only plumps them up, but also rots their teeth.<br /><br />To save the poor buggers from their sweet tooth, keepers are swapping out the fruit for green leafy veggies. <br /><br />They're also serving up "panda pellets" packed with nutrients and minerals to the red pandas. The pellets are mixed in with a little bit of pear, which gets them the red panda seal of approval.<br /><br />Bottom line is, whether you're human or animal, it's always best to have a balanced diet.
