With regard to a message being circulated in social media and in certain foreign media that the Thai government issued an alert against consumption of canned food produced in Thailand, especially fruits, as they are contaminated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the Royal Thai Government wishes to clarify as follows:

1. This groundless message had appeared on social media in certain countries including Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines during 2013 – 2014 and reemerged in late 2016. There is no truth in it whatsoever as neither the Government nor any Thai authority has ever issued such a statement. The Royal Thai Embassies and Team Thailand have issued statements rebuking the claim on several occasions. Relevant foreign authorities and consumers abroad still retain confidence in Thai products' safety and quality.

2. Processed food in Thailand is produced according to internationally recognized health and safety standards including Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).

3. According to Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, HIV needs a human host cell.  It is impossible to find HIV contamination outside the human body. HIV outside human body, on the floor or in animal’s body cannot be transmitted. HIV cannot resist the temperature outside human body.  The only possibility for it to survive is to be in liquid form inside the body such as blood or semen.  However, HIV dies when it is exposed to air. HIV can be destroyed with heat around 56 degrees Celsius and can survive outside the body only between ten to fifteen minutes.  It is also possible to use different sorts of disinfectants such as white wash liquid to kill HIV.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed Embassies and Consulates-General to work closely with Thai government agencies abroad to monitor false news that may affect confidence in the quality of Thai products, in order to provide prompt clarification and to take necessary actions against those who have circulated the message in accordance with local legal procedures.

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