Fruit on Michigan Gas Pumps: Drug Rumor or Real Threat?

Here's a little nugget of paranoia floating around on social media that popped up on my Michigan radar this morning: Drivers are being warned to avoid touching any fruit that may be sitting on top of a gas pump. I'm not sure how many of us would willingly grab an apple off a questionably sanitized surface anyway, but the alert was passed along on social media.

Same—because now I need to know; if I'm being told not to touch something, I need to know why. So let's look a little deeper at one of Michigan's newest urban legends.

Where Did This Rumor Start?

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A post shared by Danny Hill (@djdannyhill)

As far as I can tell, the root of this "warning" comes from Danny Hill on Instagram (see above), who made a video last year at a gas station in Bakersfield, California. In it, he claims that drug dealers place fruit on top of gas pumps and then stake out the station to see if anyone grabs one.

What the Viral Post Claims

According to the rumor, each type of fruit signals a different drug, and the dealer will roll up with your order once you've touched one. Personally, I would need to be on drugs to touch random fruit sitting on a gas pump in Michigan.

Is There Any Proof?

Photo by Krish Parmar on Unsplash
/ Canva

So, is there any truth to this? As far as I can tell, no. Although numerous sites report on the social media post, I couldn't find a single case where it has been confirmed in Michigan or anywhere else.

And even if it was, isn't the point of selling illegal drugs to not draw attention to yourself? Putting bright colored fruit in a place it has no business being seems to be the opposite of subtle and under the radar.

Should You Be Worried?

Photo by Jakob Rosen on Unsplash

This doesn't mean I'd go touching fruit on top of a gas pump, but in the event I do see some, I'll be looking around for criminals—or a fruit stand, because who shops for fruit at a gas station?