On February 25, 2018, a article was published Are Cadbury Products Contaminated With HIV? There was a claim that a worker had been arrested for contaminating items manufactured by the company with HIV positive blood. "It was stated this was released on BBC News and to refrain from eating Cadbury products over the next few weeks (snopes.com)." The rumor was false. There were no sources indicating the accusations were true. No warning had been made or arrests for that matter.
Over the years, stories involving people contaminating products with HIV have been circulating around. From Pepsi, to pineapples, soft drinks and canned good all have been targeted with this same rumor. The rumor remains the same, the company's being targeted are just different. This rumor originated when the claim were first made about a Pepsi employee.
"The CDC states HIV can not be transmitted through air, water, saliva, sweat, tears,closed-mouth kissing, toilets, food or drinks (www.cdc.gov)." The most common ways to get HIV is through sexual behaviors, needle or syringe use. "Only certain bodily fluids can transmit the virus which include blood, semen, rectal and vaginal fluids and breast milk. These fluids must come in contact with a mucous membrane, damaged tissues or directly injected into the bloodstream for transmission to occur (www.cdc.gov)."
The rumor spread through social sites and provided false information with no real details. It was only stated that an arrest had been made, it was never stated who the employee was, what state the incident took place in or that more details would come at another time. This rumor can be classified as a bogie rumor and a wedge driving aggression rumor. With the bogie rumor, this type of claim can cause fear among people if they have purchased these products and consumed them, that they may be infected with HIV. People can experience anxiety and may not want to purchase any goods for a fear of contracting the virus from any foods due to the claims made. With wedge driving aggression, it is mean to spread harsh rumors. HIV is a disease that there is no cure for. If something like this was true it would change the lives of so many people. The rumor was false, but what about the people who are easily manipulated and believe the things they read without having supporting facts. The rumor that Cadbury products was contaminated with HIV was short and simple. The story could have been changed and added on to so that it could be believable.
We don't think about the consequences of spreading things we hear. All we know is we've heard some juicy information and we have to share it with someone. We tell the gossip to our friend, they share it with someone they're close to and it never ends. The story gets mixed up, things are added on to make it sound better. All the while we never consider the person the rumor is about, if and how it will affect them, or what they may be going through. All news is not good news and all rumors aren't meant to be spread.
#RumorsCanDestroyCharacter&PeopleIfTheyAreBelievable
