A 48-year-old man from Stanley Mission is facing charges for allegedly spreading rumours that food at a La Ronge business had been contaminated with HIV by a needle.
The RCMP alerted the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region about the possible contamination Monday. The health region then ordered food removed from stores in La Ronge, Air Ronge, and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band as a precaution.
RCMP said the tip turned out to be bogus and charged Morton Cook with public mischief and obstructing a police officer. He will appear in La Ronge Provincial Court on Thursday.
Medical Health Officer for the health region James Irvine said the risk of contracting HIV from a food source is “extremely remote.”
He said the stomach itself does a good job of protecting the body from that situation.
“(The) usual mechanism for transmission, is injection drug use, sharing of needles between individuals or sexual contact,” Irvine said.
The region said there is no need to dispose of recently purchased food or return food products to the stores.