Fact Check: Worm Found Inside Capsicum is Not a Poisonous Snake; Viral Claim is False
Based on the evidence gathered and expert assessment, it can be concluded that the claim is false as the video showing a worm found inside a capsicum is not that of a poisonous snake.
- By: Devika Mehta
- Published: Aug 3, 2023 at 01:53 PM
News Delhi (Vishvas News): A viral post circulating on social media claims that a poisonous snake is emerging from a capsicum or green bell pepper, but Vishvas News found that it is a relatively harmless worm, falsely labelled as a poisonous snake.
Claim:
A Facebook user named ‘Aaditya Kumar Gupta’ shared a viral video (archive link) that claimed, “It is said to be the world’s smallest venomous snake and is often found inside capsicum. Please always chop your capsicum before use, even if it is for grinding as it is toxic even when used for salads. We should not become a victim of the situation. I urge you to share to save lives.”
Many identical posts were also seen on Facebook and Twitter.
Investigation:
On July 26, 2023, a video was sent to our WhatsApp Tipline number 9599299372 by one of our users who requested us to verify its authenticity.
The people in the background can be heard saying in Punjabi, “Look, it’s alive and moving, now it’s coming out, it has a long body. Look at what’s coming out of the pepper.”
Vishvas News first used the InVID tool to cross-check the viral video and conducted a Google Lens reverse image search. The results showed the same video to have been viral since 2019.
Also, another video called it a threadworm; the comments below the video included the mention of Mermithid Nematode Worm.
An expert we consulted underlined that the creature in the video is a worm. Mridul Vaibhav, a wildlife conservationist, said, “This is a fake claim. It is a Mermithid Nematode Worm, and definitely not a snake. The smallest snakes are Brahminy Blind Snake (as shown in the below picture) and they’re fatter than this and are non-venomous.”
As per several scientific journals, Mermithid Nematode Worm is usually harmless to humans and can infest fruits and vegetables, including capsicum or peppers.
Upon conducting a thorough analysis of the video and consulting with the expert, it has been established that the creature found inside the pepper is indeed a worm and not a snake.
The profile of Facebook user ‘Aditya Kumar Gupta’, who shared the viral claim, says he is a photographer by profession, lives in Lucknow and is followed by 5,200 users on the social network.
Conclusion: Based on the evidence gathered and expert assessment, it can be concluded that the claim is false as the video showing a worm found inside a capsicum is not that of a poisonous snake.
- Claim Review : Poisonous Snake Found Inside Capsicum
- Claimed By : Fb user: Adityakumar Gupta
- Fact Check : False
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