FACT CHECK: Has The Coronavirus Been Found In Bags Of Rice?
An image shared on Facebook more than 700 times claims the novel coronavirus has been found in bags of rice.
“Time to return all the rice my people,” reads the caption.
Verdict: False
The Daily Caller News Foundation didn’t find any proof to support the post’s claim. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that while the disease can be transmitted through infected objects and surfaces, there is no evidence that it can spread through food.
Fact Check:
The image appears to be the latest example of coronavirus misinformation that’s become rampant on social media websites. As of March 4, the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has spread from China to at least 76 other countries, sickening some 93,090 people and killing some 3,198 others, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
No corroborating evidence or news reports could be found to support the image’s claim that coronavirus has been found in bags of rice. In fact, the CDC website notes that while the respiratory virus can be spread through touching infected objects or surfaces, there is “no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.”
“In general, because of the poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient, refrigerated, or frozen temperatures,” states the CDC website. (RELATED: Viral Image Claims Marijuana ‘Kills’ The Coronavirus)
The post itself does not offer any source for the claim. Its format closely resembles that of Breakyourownnews.com, a website that allows users to generate their own news chyrons.
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