Claim reviews
Social media posts inaccurately link hormonal contraceptives with polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, and depression
CLAIM
Hormonal birth control is associated with “PCOS [polycystic ovarian syndrome], hormonal imbalances, depression, and infertility”
SOURCE: Anonymous, Reallygraceful
Published: 24 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Claim by Mercola that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine causes immunosuppression is inaccurate, misrepresents study’s findings
CLAIM
“Pfizer Knew About Immunosuppression”; “Fully Vaxxed Are More Likely to Die From COVID”
SOURCE: Joseph Mercola, Mercola, The Epoch Times
Published: 21 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Insufficient clinical evidence demonstrating that turmeric cures or prevents cancer
CLAIM
“turmeric prevents cancer”
SOURCE: Anonymous, Natural Solutions Magazine
Published: 20 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Fluoride in toothpaste effectively prevents tooth decay; it isn’t neurotoxic, contrary to online claims
CLAIM
“Toothpaste is poisonous”; “fluoride is a neurotoxin” and doesn’t prevent tooth decay
SOURCE: Charlotte Gerson, Facebook
Published: 13 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Comparing SARS-CoV-2 infection rate of vaccinated and unvaccinated populations doesn’t reflect the real COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness
CLAIM
The SARS-CoV-2 infection rate is higher among vaccinated than unvaccinated in the UK
SOURCE: Gregg Schmedes, Facebook
Published: 13 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Higher myocarditis risk after COVID-19 than mRNA vaccination; contrary to Peter McCullough’s claim, young persons decrease their risk by getting vaccinated
CLAIM
“We have 21,000 cases of myocarditis and climbing. […] Under no circumstances, should a young person ever receive one of these vaccines”
SOURCE: Peter McCullough, Instagram, Facebook
Published: 09 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Current evidence doesn’t indicate that sunscreen ingredients increase the risk of cancer; it shows that unprotected sun exposure does
CLAIM
“Sunscreens cause cancer, not the sun”; sunscreen and sunless tanning products contain cancer-causing ingredients
SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, Instagram
Published: 09 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Menstrual cycles are natural and regulated by hormones; many mammals apart from humans also menstruate
CLAIM
“The menstrual cycle isn’t natural”
SOURCE: Facebook Users, Facebook
Published: 08 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Vaccine-induced immunity is more reliable and safer than natural immunity; Fauci’s remarks in 2004 interview misinterpreted in social media posts
CLAIM
Fauci’s 2004 interview remarks about flu vaccine shows that natural immunity is best for COVID-19
SOURCE: Anonymous, FreedomWorks, Young Americans for Liberty
Published: 06 Apr 2022
VERDICT
Claim that the antiviral drug remdesivir is killing people is baseless
CLAIM
“Remdesivir is proven to kill lives”
SOURCE: Bryan Ardis, TikTok, Facebook
Published: 05 Apr 2022
VERDICT