LEACHVILLE, Ark. (WTHR) - A warning from police that sent shockwaves to shoppers across the internet is apparently not true.
The Leachville (Ark.) Police Department urged people on Facebook to wipe down the handles of shopping carts, not because of germs, but because of something much worse. The department said drugs such as fentanyl can enter into your system through contact with your skin.
Exposure to fentanyl can be extremely dangerous, especially for children. Earlier this year a 10-year-old Miami boy died after coming into contact with the drug, according to NBC station WFLA. In April, an Ohio police officer found blood and fentanyl left on the baby changing table after encountering a person in a gas station bathroom.
But now, after being shared hundreds of thousands of times, the department deleted the post, which was written by the police chief, according to AOL News. The chief then posted an apology.
"The post about the fentanyl was sent so me from another officer at another Department. I simply shared it. I’m should have checked into it further before I posted it. Sorry for the confusion," the chief wrote.
Internet fact-checking site Snopes.com investigated the claim and found it to be unproven.
That's not to say taking a moment to wipe down the cart handle isn't a good idea, as cold and flu season moves in.