Claim reviews
Gout is an inflammatory disease caused by uric acid crystals, not liver dysfunction
CLAIM
Gout is “a liver condition”; uric acid crystals “aren’t the cause of gout or the cause of gout’s pain”
SOURCE: Anthony William, Instagram
Published: 11 Sep 2024
VERDICT
No evidence that red onion and Coca-Cola infusion cures the flu; drinking soda is linked to adverse health outcomes
CLAIM
Drinking an infusion of red onion and Coca-Cola can cure the flu
SOURCE: Social media user, Facebook
Published: 11 Sep 2024
VERDICT
Numbers on fruit and vegetable stickers don’t indicate whether they are genetically modified or not
CLAIM
Five-digit numbers starting with eight on fruit and vegetable stickers indicate that they are genetically modified; “If you see this sticker on a fruit DO NOT buy it at any cost”
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, The Daily Mail
Published: 06 Sep 2024
VERDICT
Lack of reliable evidence supporting the claim that sauna bathing is an effective way to “detox” the body
CLAIM
Sauna bathing effectively detoxes the body by inducing sweating
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, Instagram
Published: 05 Sep 2024
VERDICT
Alex Jones was fined 1.5 billion dollars for defaming families of Sandy Hook shooting victims; no evidence he was fined for warning about “Covid crimes”
CLAIM
Alex Jones was fined 150 billion dollars for warning about crimes related to COVID-19
SOURCE: Brandon Tatum, Instagram
Published: 05 Sep 2024
VERDICT
People experiencing homelessness died more frequently from COVID-19 than the general population
CLAIM
COVID-19 was not deadly, otherwise homeless people would not have survived the pandemic
SOURCE: Social media user, Threads
Published: 30 Aug 2024
VERDICT
Facebook reel propagates vaccine and statin misinformation from health book author Raymond Francis
CLAIM
Vaccines cause autism, ADHD, and cancer; statins “provide no benefit”, cause cancer and memory loss
SOURCE: Raymond Francis, Silicon Valley Health Institute
Published: 29 Aug 2024
VERDICT
Vitamin D3 supplements are safe for treating vitamin D deficiency; comparison to rat poison is misleading
CLAIM
“Vitamin D3 is radiated sheep’s wool mixed with chloroform”, “Vitamin D3 IS RAT POISON !!”, “D levels are low because of lack of light and high vitamin A diets.”
SOURCE: Evan Torrens, Facebook
Published: 22 Aug 2024
VERDICT
Fauci quoted out of context in misleading video, didn’t change his views about benefits of COVID-19 vaccines
CLAIM
Fauci changed his views on COVID-19 vaccines benefits; Fauci’s remarks show that COVID-19 vaccines don’t work as advertised
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook
Published: 21 Aug 2024
VERDICT
WHO declaration of public health emergency triggered by worsening of mpox outbreak in Africa, not a ploy to push for using vaccine stocks
CLAIM
The WHO declaration of a public health emergency is a scheme to use vaccines “stocked up in warehouses”; bird flu, parvovirus B19, and monkeypox are “rebranding” of the same virus
SOURCE: Rizza Islam, Instagram
Published: 20 Aug 2024
VERDICT