A WhatsApp message claiming novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) to be treated by eating alkaline fruits has resurfaced and being forwarded by many. Now, according to this WhatsApp forward, the pH level of coronavirus varies from 5.5 to 8.5 and can be cured by eating "alkaline" fruits including mango, orange, lemon as well as dandelion. Interestingly, the pH value of avocados is 15.6 on pH scale! Attributing to the Journal of Virology and Antiviral Research, the message claimed to beat the deadly virus, and people need to have food having more alkaline content in their food to beat the virus. Not, only this, the message also mentioned the pH level of various fruits. And it is time to check the real information and separate it from the fake news forwarded mindlessly. Fact Check: Amit Shah Tested Positive For Coronavirus? Here's The Truth Behind The Fake News Image Going Viral.

LatestLY fact-checked the details. It was found out that the Message was fake. Scientists denied the claim that coronavirus has a pH level between 5.5 -8. As per the directive of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the deadly virus spreads only through sneezing and coughing. The organisation, therefore, advised people to maintain social distancing.

The message also mentioned the wrong pH values of various fruits, including lemon, avocado, pineapple, mango and orange. These are not alkaline but acidic fruits. In the message, the pH level of avocado is mentioned as 15.6, but any food item cannot have pH more than 14. Meanwhile, in the message, the pH of lemon as 9.0, but the actual pH of the fruit is 2.0-2.6. Fact Check: Coronavirus to Infect 40 Crore Indians by July End? Viral Report Turns Out to be Fake News.

Here is the Fake Message:

"This is to inform you that the pH for coronavirus varies from 5.5 to 8.5.

*RESEARCH: JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY & ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH,*

All we need to do, to beat coronavirus, we need to take more of alkaline foods that are above the above pH level of the Virus.

Some of which are:

Lemon - 9.9pH

Lime - 8.2pH

Avocado - 15.6pH

Garlic - 13.2pH

Mango - 8.7pH

Tangerine - 8.5pH

Pineapple - 12.7pH

Dandelion - 22.7pH

Orange - 9.2pH

Increase your intake of the above to help boost your immune system. Do not keep this information to yourself only. Pass it to all your family and friends."

LatestLY has concluded that the message is fake.

Here are the original pH levels of the fruits mentioned in the ‘Fake Message:

Fruits pH Level
Lemon 2.2-2-4
  Lime 1.8 - 2.0
 Avocado 6.3 - 6.6
 Garlic 5.8
Mango 5.8 - 6.0
Tangerine 3.9
Pineapple 3.20-4.00
Orange 3.0 - 4.0

LatestLY advises people not to believe such fake messages and not to spread the misinformation. People should trust only official statement released by the Health Ministry and the WHO. To get latest updates on coronavirus, follow LatestLY.

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Fact check

Coronavirus Has a pH Value of 5.5–8.5 & Can Be Cured by Eating ‘Alkaline’ Fruits Like Lemon, Mango, Orange and Dandelion? Know the Truth Behind Viral WhatsApp Message and Correct pH Scales of Fruits
Claim :

Coronavirus has pH value between 5.5 and 8.5. It can be cured by eating alkaline fruits like orange, lemon and mango.

Conclusion :

The message is fake. There is no official confirmation about the pH level of the virus. pH levels given in the message are wrong. The fruits mentioned in the message are acidic in nature and not alkaline

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 18, 2020 12:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).