Turkey Recall Hoax Goes Viral

Turkey Recall – Is Your Family Safe?
Have you seen the “warning” allegedly from the CDC? Your Thanksgiving Day meal isn’t safe? Only if you believe everything you read.
Go ahead and enjoy – the story that many have been sharing is a hoax. The claim that there is a nationwide recall of turkeys days ahead of one of our favorite holidays has been shared multiple times via social media.

The story was published on a website called the National Report, which claims to be satirical. (No one’s laughing) The article falsely claims to quote CDC and other officials in its claim the turkeys are recalled due to the avian flu. The following was part of the fake story, “The virus is related to human influenza virus but was thought to lack the ability to infect humans. However, it appears that the virus has recently developed the ability to move from bird hosts into humans.”

The National Report used to have a disclaimer, although it has been removed. It used to read,

“National Report is a news and political satire web publication, which may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictitious ways. All news articles contained within National Report are fiction, and presumably fake news. Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental .”

One of the indications it’s a fake – the 24-hour hotline number listed for people to call is actually the line for the Westboro Baptist Church. There is an important message here: Don’t share anything on social media until you do your own research. Social media is a great place to spread the news – when it’s true and useful. So Gobble up America and Happy Thanksgiving!
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