Claim reviews
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
Vaccines, treatments reduced public health threat posed by COVID-19, explaining different approach in 2024 compared to 2020
CLAIM
COVID-19 has been like the flu since the beginning of the pandemic
SOURCE: Instagram Users, Instagram
Published: 07 Mar 2024
VERDICT
