Claim reviews
Edible food coating Apeel doesn’t contain toxic ingredients; its ingredients are recognized as safe for use in foods
CLAIM
Apeel contains harmful ingredients
SOURCE: Alison Steinberg, Social media users, One America News Network, Facebook, TikTok
Published: 25 Jul 2024
VERDICT
No current evidence to support social media fad of “blood type diet”
CLAIM
Eating specific foods based on your blood type can optimize your health
SOURCE: Social media users, Instagram
Published: 24 Jul 2024
VERDICT
Activated charcoal is used to treat poisoning, but isn’t effective for all poisons and isn’t a substitute for medical attention
CLAIM
“Charcoal absorbs and neutralizes poisons”; charcoal can treat diarrhea and bloating
SOURCE: Barbara O'Neill, Facebook
Published: 24 Jul 2024
VERDICT
Unprotected sun overexposure, not sunscreen or sunglasses, causes sunburn and skin cancer
CLAIM
“sunscreen and then skin cancer, it's a direct correlation”; wearing sunglasses increases the risk of sunburn; sunscreen reduces vitamin D production
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Published: 19 Jul 2024
VERDICT
Research suggests that a particular mutation related to larger spleen size provides the Bajau people from Southeast Asia with remarkable diving skills
CLAIM
“A unique genetic mutation in the Bajau people of South-East Asia” allows them “to dive underwater for hours each day”
SOURCE: Anonymous, Intels
Published: 19 Jul 2024
VERDICT
No, a study didn’t establish that tampons are toxic and cause health problems, contrary to social media posts
CLAIM
Toxic metals in tampons are causing reproductive health problems like endometriosis and infertility
SOURCE: Social media users, TikTok, Threads
Published: 18 Jul 2024
VERDICT
Study claiming 74% of deaths due to COVID-19 vaccines contains signs of potential biases, uses flawed methodology
CLAIM
A review of autopsy cases found that 74% of deaths were linked to COVID-19 vaccines
SOURCE: Social media users, Jim Hoft, Facebook, The Gateway Pundit
Published: 14 Jul 2024
VERDICT
No research shows that COVID-19 vaccines promote cancer in people; study cited as evidence tested the spike protein from the virus in laboratory cells
CLAIM
“SPIKE PROTEINS FROM COVID SHOTS COULD PROMOTE CANCER GROWTH”
SOURCE: America's Frontline Doctors, Facebook
Published: 10 Jul 2024
VERDICT
Preclinical studies cannot provide sufficient evidence that ivermectin helps treat cancer in people
CLAIM
Cancer patients should use ivermectin to treat cancer, as it augments the effect of cancer therapies
SOURCE: Walter Kim, Brio-Medical Cancer Center
Published: 10 Jul 2024
VERDICT
Sodium chloride and corn gluten meal aren’t hazardous to humans, even though they are used as mouse poison
CLAIM
Salt and corn gluten meal are used to kill mice, they are hazardous to humans
SOURCE: Michelle Jorgensen, Facebook
Published: 09 Jul 2024
VERDICT