6 stories that sound like April Fools’ Day hoaxes but aren’t

If you have made it this far through the day without falling for an April Fools’ Day joke, you are doing well.

But don’t let your guard down just yet.

The internet is flooded with fake news and spoof advertisements created by media outlets and marketing executives who revel in this once-a-year opportunity to play pranks on web users.

Some of the stunts are more convincing than others.

This year’s forehead-slapping gags include selfie shoes, a smartphone that also doubles as a kitchen knife, a wearable device that keeps tabs on the user’s acts of kindness and a wireless plan for pets called “Pets Un-leashed.”

But there are other days during the year when you could be forgiven for thinking that April 1 falls more than just once.

You know what we’re talking about. Those stories about weird products, bizarre laws and wacky revelations that are so ridiculous and far-fetched that you would swear they had to be a joke.

And then you realize they’re not.

In the past few months there has been a spate of such stories. We’ve rounded up a list of six that were in fact genuine. 

Tomato feeding machine

Earlier this year, Japanese juice company Kagome launched a wearable tomato feeder called the Tomatan for long-distance runners. The humanoid hands-free device weighs nearly 18 pounds and can hold six mid-sized tomatoes that are channeled directly to the user’s mouth.

Big Mac clothing line

McDonald’s made its debut in the fashion world last month, launching its very own Big Mac clothing line. Fans can literally wear the iconic hamburger with the fast-food giant’s range of thermals, raincoats, Wellington boots, wallpaper and bed sheets decorated with Big Macs. There’s even a Big Mac coat for the family dog so everyone can feel happy. 

Sweden's no-dancing rule

Spontaneous dancing is potentially dangerous, at least in the eyes of a majority of Sweden’s lawmakers who recently upheld a ban on people dancing in venues that don’t have a special permit. The no-fun authorities argue that dancing can create “disorder” and lead to “fights.” We thought that was alcohol, but whatever.

An Easter Bunny worth $49,000

This life-size chocolate rabbit has been hand-carved from a solid block of mostly Tanzanian chocolate and sports solitaire diamonds for eyes and gold-leaf dusted eggs. Measuring 15 inches tall and weighing 11 pounds, the $49,000 Easter bunny can be eaten over a two-year period, which is about the amount of time you will need to burn off the 548,000 calories.

David Cameron is related to Kim Kardashian

To be fair, Kim was probably as shocked as you are to find out that she is a 13th cousin of British Prime Minister David Cameron. Cameron made the revelation during an interview with gossip magazine Heat and some are now wondering if it wasn’t a desperate attempt by the embattled leader to drum up votes for the national election next month.

Russia’s Ice Kefir Challenge

 

Недавно узнали про социальную программу "Молочная кухня" (бесплатное питание для детей до трех лет). Это очень важно и полезно! В знак поддержки хорошего дела присоединяемся к всемирной эстафете Ice Kefir Challenge, и обливаемся кефиром. Приняли вызов от Раисы Мурашкиной (журнал "Антенна") и передаем эстафету Елене Воробей @vorobei_elena, Анастасии Волочковой @volochkova_art и участвующей в проекте "Худеем со СтарХит" Валентине Киселевой с телеканала ТНТ! #IceKefirChallenge

A photo posted by @starhit_ru on Mar 31, 2015 at 11:21am PDT

Russian celebrities have apparently responded to the Ice Bucket Challenge with their own peculiar money-raising effort: Dumping bottles of fermented milk, known as kefir, over their heads. Quartz reported that participants are posting photos of themselves splattered with kefir on Instagram with the hashtag #IceKefirChallenge to raise money for an organization that distributes food to hungry children. It could turn out to be a hoax, but Quartz claims there’s no evidence to suggest it is.