Fluoride level in U.S. drinking water is safe; people of all ages, including infants, can consume fluoridated water

CLAIM
Babies shouldn’t drink fluoridated water; the blood-brain barrier in infants is not fully formed until six months of age

SOURCE: Robert W. B. Love, Instagram

Published: 22 Mar 2024

VERDICT

Claims that long COVID doesn’t exist misrepresent study by Queensland Health researchers

CLAIM
Queensland Health Researchers find that long COVID doesn’t exist

SOURCE: David Landsel, Paul Sacca, Brooke Mallory, New York Post, The Blaze, One America News Network

Published: 22 Mar 2024

VERDICT

Claim that artificial sweeteners like aspartame cause cancer lacks support, according to review from WHO agencies

CLAIM
Artificial sweeteners “are proven to cause cancer”; “people in the 1930s ate cake, cookies and ice cream with SUGAR. And they were healthy”

SOURCE: Social Media User, Instagram

Published: 21 Mar 2024

VERDICT

Castor oil is only medically recognized as a laxative; other alleged medical benefits, including treating cancer, lack scientific support

CLAIM
“Scar tissue, bone spurs, tumors, [castor oil is] excellent for breaking that up”

SOURCE: Barbara O'Neill, TikTok

Published: 20 Mar 2024

VERDICT

Steve Kirsch promotes flawed study making false claim about COVID-19 vaccines and cancer risk

CLAIM
“Pathologist reports a stunning 52% increase in cancer risk for ages 15-59 who were vaxxed”

SOURCE: Steve Kirsch, Ivana Pavic, Substack, Instagram, Twitter

Published: 18 Mar 2024

VERDICT

No evidence that persistent symptoms are more frequent after COVID-19 vaccination than after infection, contrary to an op-ed in The Hill

CLAIM
“U.S. doctors found that ’long Covid’ developed in 70 percent of cases after vax injection, not after infection”

SOURCE: Pierre Kory, Paul Marik, The Hill, Disclose.tv

Published: 15 Mar 2024

VERDICT

CDC analysis of RSV vaccines data showed vaccines are safe, not associated with excess deaths, contrary to claim by Children’s Health Defense

CLAIM
RSV vaccines are linked to deaths and neurological disorders; the CDC glossed over reports of deaths among vaccinated individuals

SOURCE: Michael Nevradakis, Children's Health Defense

Published: 14 Mar 2024

VERDICT

Insufficient evidence for the claim that benzoyl peroxide in skincare products poses cancer risk

CLAIM
Benzene in benzoyl peroxide-containing skincare products poses a cancer risk

SOURCE: Social media users, TikTok

Published: 14 Mar 2024

VERDICT

Are AirPods and other wireless communication devices harmful, as claimed on social media? A look at the evidence

CLAIM
AirPods emit dangerous levels of radiation that harm the body

SOURCE: Paul Saladino, Instagram

Published: 11 Mar 2024

VERDICT

DTaP vaccine isn’t associated with sudden infant death syndrome, whooping cough vaccine led to historic decline in cases

CLAIM
Whooping cough vaccine was never necessary, DTaP vaccine is linked to sudden infant death syndrome

SOURCE: Jaclyn Simone, Instagram

Published: 07 Mar 2024

VERDICT