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| - Last Updated on September 23, 2022 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A video showing bananas containing worms is doing rounds on WhatsApp. The claim associated with the video is “500 tons of bananas from Somalia arrived in the markets,” which contains this worm called helicobacter. We fact-checked and found that the claim is False. The video is old and has already been fact-checked by multiple fact-checkers. Various authorities from multiple countries have also issued notifications debunking the claim in the video.
The Claim
A Twitter post shows a person pricking a banana with a needle before peeling off its skin. Inside the banana, worms are wriggling. The text post, along with the video, warns users to refrain from buying bananas at the moment as 500 tonnes of such worm-filled bananas have entered the market from Somalia.
We have received a copy of the video on our WhatsApp tipline by a user. The video has also been posted on multiple social media platforms in the past.
Fact Check
What is a helicobacter?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that causes an infection in the stomach lining or duodenum. It can damage the tissue in your stomach and the first part of your small intestine (the duodenum), causing redness and soreness (inflammation). Furthermore, it can cause gastritis and peptic ulcer disease; in rare cases, if left untreated, it can lead to stomach cancer. However, this fatality is never triggered in a matter of hours. Depending on the complex interaction between host and bacterial in the development of gastrointestinal pathology, it typically takes months or years.
Does India import bananas from Somalia?
Not exactly. On researching, no data can be found proving that India imports bananas from Somalia. In fact, India is one of the largest producers of bananas in the world. On the contrary, India is an exporter of bananas. In the financial year 2020-21, India exported bananas worth more than Rs 616 crore to countries such as Iran, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Are Somalia bananas full of helicobacter worms in the market?
This is not true. Firstly, Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria and not a worm, contrary to what is depicted in the video. Secondly, the video displays worm-like threads having no features of a worm except the shape. Lastly and most importantly, ‘Helicobacter’ cannot be seen by the naked eye; it is a type of bacteria that must be isolated, stained and observed under the microscope. Further confirming this, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority issued a statement saying the viral video was incorrect. “Worms are not known to complete their life cycle inside fruits when it is as big as shown in the video.”
THIP Media Take: Neither there have been any reported accounts of Helicobacter infestation in the market, nor have such worms been recorded to infect an intact banana. Helicobacter is a bacteria and not a worm, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Therefore, the claim stands false.
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