NOT REAL NEWS: Government didn’t find cocaine in Coors Light

DENVER — The U.S. government didn’t find Coors Light beer laced with cocaine, despite claims that originated on a satirical website.

The article claiming the Food and Drug Administration discovered “thousands” of contaminated beers nationwide first appeared in 2014 at the site huzlers. The claims continue to be shared via social media.

The story quoted an FDA employee named Arnold Francis and said the agency ordered Coors Light production halted for at least 30 days after thousands of people reported feeling “weird, high and even sick” after drinking the beer.

“This story is not true,” said FDA spokesman Peter Cassell. He noted the primary federal regulatory authority for alcohol is not the FDA but the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which is part of the Treasury Department. He added that no one with Francis’ name works at FDA and there are no related consumer complaints in its public database.

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This is part of The Associated Press’ ongoing effort to fact-check misinformation that is shared widely online, including work with Facebook to identify and reduce the circulation of false stories on the platform.