Fact Check: Viral video doesn’t show world’s tiniest venomous snake inside capsicum

Hyderabad: Several social media users have shared a video of a white thread-like creature claiming it to be the world’s tiniest venomous snake.

The caption of the post reads, “It is referred to as the world’s tiniest poisonous snake and its often found inside Green Capsicum. Pls always cut open your green Capsicum before you embark on use even if it’s for grinding because its poisonous or use for salad. May we not be victim of circumstance. I implore you to share to safe life. (sic)”

Does the viral video really show a venomous snake from Capsicum?

Let’s find out.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading. The worm in the video poses no harm to humans and is not the world’s tiniest poisonous snake.

We started our investigation by performing a keyword search to find whether the video shows the world’s tiniest snake. We found that the creature in the video seems nothing like the officially recognised tiniest snake Barbados thread snake or Tetracheilostoma caelae, as per a report in Discover Wildlife by BBC.

(Source:Discover Wildlife)

We started our investigation by performing multiple keyword searches to find relevant information about the thread-like creature found in capsicum. We found that the video has been doing rounds in countries like Brazil and Spain as well since 2019. We came across an article calling the creature, a worm, from the group called nematodes or nematomorphs.

As per Britannica, nematodes occur as parasites in animals and plants or as free-living forms in soil, freshwater, marine environments, and even unusual places such as vinegar, beer malts, and water-filled cracks deep within Earth’s crust.

This is not the first time vegetables with nematodes have gone viral. We found similar videos with people finding the nematode inside cabbage and brinjal, calling it a major health concern. According to APS.net, ‘most species of nematodes have no effect on humans and their endeavours.’

But, NewsMeter cautions its readers that it is still important to be mindful while cutting vegetables since no type of worm and other creatures should be consumed.