Unsubstantiated
A rumor that HIV-tainted oranges from Libya has circulated heavily this week on Facebook and Twitter. The story went viral after the photo below began circulating with the claim that the alleged oranges were found in Algeria. One caption reads, “The immigration services of Algeria recovered a large quantity of these oranges coming from Libya. These oranges were injected with positive tested Hiv & AIDS blood. Please share this message & warn people of de dangers involved.”
The source of this image is unknown, although it has been online for at least a few months. The allegation that HIV-laced oranges are circulating has been made with no sources or corroborating evidence. No major news sources have reported such a story.
HIV Transmission
The CDC notes that HIV does not survive long outside of the human body. It specifically addresses the question as to whether or not HIV can be spread via food.
Can I get HIV from food?Except for rare cases in which children consumed food that was pre-chewed by an HIV-infected caregiver, HIV has not been spread through food. The virus does not live long outside the body. You cannot get it from consuming food handled by an HIV-infected person; even if the food contained small amounts of HIV-infected blood or semen, exposure to the air, heat from cooking, and stomach acid would destroy the virus.
Bottom Line
The rumor regarding HIV-injected oranges from Libya is unfounded. Further, the CDC has already established that HIV is not spread via food and does not live long outside of the human body.
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