A keg with “adrenochrome” embossed on its rim was created as part of an art project exhibited in London in 2018; images of the keg have recently been misrepresented online alongside false claims that it is among Heineken barrels filled with adrenochrome and transported worldwide by Shell.

Adrenochrome refers to a red-colored substance that derives from the oxidation of epinephrine, also known as adrenaline (here , here ). It is not exclusive to the human body and can be purchased from chemical suppliers for research purposes.

Adrenochrome has, however, been a focus for adherents of QAnon (here) who falsely claim that “global elites” harvest the chemical from children and consume it to stay healthy and young. More information about the conspiracy theory is available on Wired (here), First Draft (here) and McGill University’s Office for Science and Society (here).

The keg image and claims circulated following Feb. 22 reports that Bill Gates bought a 3.76% stake in Heineken Holding NV (here).

Examples are viewable on Twitter (here) and Facebook (here).

Reuters could not source the exact photograph in the posts, but it matches others depicting an art project exhibited at the University of the Arts London (UAL) in 2018.

The kegs carrying the inscription and red stripes were created by artist Natalia Lambert as part of a project titled “Adrenochrome.” Other photographs of the kegs are viewable in posts by Lambert’s Instagram profile (instagram.com/p/BjRaLeFhSmF/) and the Central...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5yZXV0ZXJzLmNvbS9h...