Apparent COVID-19 food licking prank gets southern Alberta man arrested

Police in Taber, Alta., arrested and charged a man after a witnesses reported seeing someonetrying to lick a product in a food store in what's believed to be a COVID-related prank.

A witness called police on April 2 after seeing four people in the southern Alberta store appearing to tamper with products, Taber police said in a Facebook post.

Officers later tracked down the suspects based on the licence plate provided by the witness and charged a 20-year-old man with mischief.

Officials say the motive of the prank was to take part in what some people are calling the "COVID Challenge" on the video app TikTok.

"The business took all precautions to ensure that the packaged goods were removed from the shelves and the entire area sanitized in keeping with COVID-19 cleaning protocols," Taber police said.

"Taber Police consider this type of activity a serious breach of good citizenship and conduct that is required during this time of crisis. Reliable and clean food supply is one of our greatest needs at this time, to waste cleaning supplies and food from our shelves during this pandemic is unacceptable."

The man was released and is set to appear in Taber provincial court on July 7.