CDC Warns of Condoms Being Used as Hair Bands-Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a warning that manufacturers in China are making condoms into hair ties.
The Truth:
A fake news website is behind false reports that the CDC issued a warning about condoms being made into hairbands.
This rumor isn’t a new one, either. We first investigated reports that Chinese manufacturers were making condoms into hair ties back in 2007. We cautiously reported that the story was true because we found a credible report from Chinese media about it. Click here to read our previous findings.
The hair tie condom story has popped up numerous times over the years. Chinese media once again reported that people had commented online that they’d purchased cheap, brightly colored hairbands from street vendors in southwest China’s Chongqing district only to find condoms inside. Those reports didn’t identify the manufacturers of the alleged hairband condoms, or vet the consumer reports.
Then, in Novemer 2015, an American fake news website called Now News 8 picked up the rumor with a false report headlined, “CDC Warns: Hair Bands From China Made of Used Condoms, Could Spread STDs.” According to the report:
The Center For Disease Control (CDC) is warning Americans that used condoms have been reportedly reprocessed into rubber bands and hair ties and have been sold in the United States, raising concerns about public health safety. Aside from being sold at local swap meets and flea markets, the recycled condoms have been found at local beauty salons all across the country.
The CDC says this threatens the health of consumers who are using these products and are concerned that using these hair ties and rubber bands could lead to the spread of AIDS, genital warts and other STD’s. The CDC has released this statement: “The amount of bacteria and potential viruses on these hair ties and rubber bands, which are made from used unsanitary condoms, has 4 times the bacteria found on a public restroom toilet. Consumers could potentially be infected with AIDS, warts, herpes and other venereal diseases if they hold the rubber bands or hair ties in their mouths while setting their hair. We warn against consumers purchasing these products if they were made in China.”
The CDC has not issued a warning about condoms being made into hairbands, and there were no new credible reports of that happening when the Now 8 News report went viral. Now 8 News is one of many fake news websites that appears to look like a local news station in an effort to duping readers into believing it’s stories are true.
If you travel to China, it’s probably wise to avoid buying hairbands from street vendors. For shoppers in the U.S., however, there are no credible threats (or CDC warnings) about condoms being made into hairbands.