Claim reviews
Cancer is caused by mutations, not the body’s acidity; eating alkaline foods can’t alter the body’s pH to prevent or treat cancer
CLAIM
Cancer occurs when “your body is full of acidity”; alkalizing your body prevents cancer
SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook
Published: 13 Aug 2022
VERDICT
The CDC hasn’t classified monkeypox as airborne; transmission is typically through sustained physical contact
CLAIM
CDC has now classified [monkeypox] as airborne and anybody within 15 ft can catch it; [it] is now classified as a form of herpes [...] lasts 2-4 months [and] can lead to being paralyzed
SOURCE: Anonymous, Fathers Matter
Published: 04 Aug 2022
VERDICT
No evidence for claim that excess folic acid causes ADHD; MTHFR gene variants are common, generally don’t cause health problems
CLAIM
Excess folic acid from food causes ADHD; folic acid is a dangerous chemical in food
SOURCE: Gary Brecka, Dropping Bombs
Published: 03 Aug 2022
VERDICT
COVID-19 vaccines don’t weaken the immune system; Lancet study misrepresented in Virology Journal comment
CLAIM
Lancet study showed that vaccinated people have lower immune function than unvaccinated people; COVID-19 vaccines suppress the immune system
SOURCE: Kenji Yamamoto, Tucker Carlson, The Hodgetwins, Fox News
Published: 28 Jul 2022
VERDICT
COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of death from COVID-19; the vaccines don’t alter our DNA
CLAIM
Canadian data shows vaccinated people more likely to die from COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines alter our DNA; hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin cure COVID-19
SOURCE: Charlie Kirk, The Charlie Kirk Show
Published: 21 Jul 2022
VERDICT
Consuming sufficient vitamin C is necessary for health and plays an important role in many of the body’s chemical processes
CLAIM
“The herbs heal [...] not vitamin C, because the body is not composed of any vitamin C”
SOURCE: Alfredo Bowman, Facebook
Published: 14 Jul 2022
VERDICT
Abortion can be medically necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman
CLAIM
“Abortion is never medically necessary”
SOURCE: Kendra Kolb, Live Action
Published: 09 Jul 2022
VERDICT
Abortifacient plants are dangerous, and ineffective as an abortion method
CLAIM
Plants such as pennyroyal, blue and black cohosh or mugwort are an effective alternative abortion method
SOURCE: Instagram Users, Instagram
Published: 09 Jul 2022
VERDICT
Studies show that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh their risks; preprint claiming to show otherwise is flawed
CLAIM
“Covid Vaccines More Likely to Put You in Hospital Than Keep You Out”
SOURCE: Will Jones, The Daily Sceptic
Published: 01 Jul 2022
VERDICT
The claim that medical doctors are more likely to kill than firearms isn’t supported by evidence
CLAIM
“In America, you’re 6x more likely to be killed by a Doctor than a gun”
SOURCE: Facebook Users, Facebook
Published: 26 Jun 2022
VERDICT