HOAX – ‘Cool Drink Contaminated With Ebola Virus’

Outline: Circulating Facebook message warns users not to consume ‘Cool Drink’ because a company worker has added blood contaminated with Ebola virus to the product. Brief Analysis: The claims in the warning message are nonsense. There are no credible reports of such a contamination and Ebola is not spread by consuming commercial food or drink. The message is […]

Mangos and Coke Death Warning Hoax

Outline: Circulating message warns you not to consume aerated drinks such as Coca Cola after eating mangos because the two combined can form a potent poison that can cause instant death. The message relates the story of an Indian tourist who died after eating mangos and consuming Coke. Brief Analysis: The claims are utter nonsense. […]

NASA ‘1 Day of Total Darkness’ Hoax

Outline: Report circulating via social media claims that the Earth will experience one full day of darkness starting on June 2nd, 2016. The claims have supposedly been confirmed by NASA. Brief Analysis: The claims in the report are utter nonsense. There will be no ‘day of total darkness’ in June (unless you are in Antarctica) and […]

No, Consuming Pepsi and Mentos Does NOT Lead to Instant Death From Cyanide Poisoning

Outline: Circulating message warns that drinking Pepsi and eating Mentos together will lead to instant death because the mixture turns into cyanide poison. Brief Analysis: The claims in the message are untrue. Combining Pepsi (or Coke) and Mentos will create a rather spectacular chemical reaction and consuming the two together might cause a stomach upset.  However, there are […]

Saturn Close to Earth on June 1st? No, It’s a Hoax

Outline: Circulating report claims that, come June 1st, Saturn will be closer to Earth than it has been in over 10,000 years and its appearance in the sky will be ‘unlike any other astronomical sight people have seen’.  The report, which claims that the information was confirmed by NASA, features an image that depicts Saturn filling […]

Killer ‘Crunches’ Biscuits Warning is a Hoax

Outline: Circulating social media message warns you not to buy or eat any biscuits called ‘crunches’ because they contain a poisonous chemical that has already killed 45 people in South Africa. Brief Analysis: The claims in the warning are utter nonsense and sharing the post will help nobody. There are no credible reports about such poisoned biscuits […]