La Ronge Man charged after HIV food contamination hoax

A La Ronge man is facing charges after a now-unfounded tip prompted the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region to remove fruits, vegetables, meat and baked goods from a handful of northern Saskatchewan grocery stores.

At 1:30 p.m. CT on Monday, a call from a local business advised Mounties that someone had allegedly contaminated food using a needle and that products were for sale at the business.

RCMP said they immediately notified health officials.

According to the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region, they learned of rumours circulating in La Ronge and surrounding areas that some foods in local grocery and convenience stores had been contaminated with HIV.

On Tuesday, the health region said there’s no evidence and it’s an unconfirmed allegation.

However, a precautionary approach was undertaken and stores in La Ronge, Air Ronge, and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band have removed items such as fruits, vegetables, meat and baked goods.

According to RCMP, their investigation has determined that this information was unfounded.

Morton Cook, 48, is facing charges of public mischief, obstructing police officer and failing to comply with judges undertaking. The man from Stanley Mission has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in La Ronge provincial court Thursday.

Can AIDS spread through food?

You can’t get HIV from consuming food handled by an HIV-infected person. Even if the food contained small amounts of HIV-infected blood or semen, exposure to the air, heat from cooking, and stomach acid would destroy the virus.

Though it is very rare, HIV can be spread by eating food that has been pre-chewed by an HIV-infected person. The contamination occurs when infected blood from a caregiver’s mouth mixes with food while chewing. The only known cases are among infants.

Agencies/Canadajorunal