The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has dismissed rumours that oranges being sold at Hong Kong markets have been injected with HIV-infected blood. The rumours have been circulating on social media recently.
According to the rumours, people should be wary of buying oranges with abnormal skin conditions because the fruits could have been injected with HIV-infected blood before they were shipped from their countries of origin in Africa.
But on its Facebook page, the CFS clarified that some of the dark spots and patterns observed on orange skins could have resulted from handling, pest or microbial infections, or spoilage, and not necessarily from artificial processes.
It said consumers should not panic and advised them to continue eating fresh fruits.
The CFS, however, said consumers should make sure the fruits they buy are fresh by paying attention to their odour and taste, signs of bruising on the skin, and stickiness caused by mold growth.
Source: ejinsight.com
