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Iria Carballo-Carbajal

Science Editor

Iria earned an undergraduate degree in biology and an MSc in secondary education from the University of Oviedo (Spain). After obtaining her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Tuebingen (Germany), she then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (Barcelona, Spain). Her research has focused on understanding the molecular basis of Parkinson’s disease to search for new potential treatments.

The Science Feedback team

CLAIM REVIEWS

Clinical trials show no association between the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs and Alzheimer’s or memory loss
CLAIM
“Alzheimer’s disease did not occur 40 years ago”; cholesterol-lowering drugs and diets cause Alzheimer’s

SOURCE: Joel Wallach, Captain's Quarters: Medical Corps

Published: 21 Mar 2023

VERDICT

Methodologically flawed cholesterol study from 2016 used to support false claims that high cholesterol increases longevity
CLAIM
“A new study found that 92 percent of people with a high cholesterol level lived longer”

SOURCE: Facebook user, Natural Solutions Magazine

Published: 16 Mar 2023

VERDICT

“Vitamin B17” is neither a vitamin nor a cancer treatment and can cause cyanide poisoning
CLAIM
Vitamin B17 “was banned by the US because of its cancer-killing properties”

SOURCE: Facebook user, Facebook

Published: 10 Mar 2023

VERDICT

Viral memes listing COVID-19 topics about which authorities were allegedly “wrong” rehash debunked misinformation
CLAIM
We were lied about “COVID-19 numbers”, treatments, natural immunity, and the origin of the virus; COVID-19 vaccines and control measures “didn’t work”

SOURCE: Social media users, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Published: 07 Mar 2023

VERDICT

Infection-induced immunity is more unpredictable and poses a higher risk than vaccine-induced immunity
CLAIM
“natural immunity provides superior protection to experimental vaccines; “They lied and said Natural Immunity wasn’t better than [vaccine]-induced immunity”

SOURCE: Social media users, Children's Health Denfese, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Published: 02 Mar 2023

VERDICT

Multiple studies show that face masks reduce the spread of COVID-19; a Cochrane review doesn’t demonstrate otherwise
CLAIM
Face masks are ineffective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases, a Cochrane review demonstrates

SOURCE: Robert Malone, Substack

Published: 17 Feb 2023

VERDICT

Misrepresented 2018 clip of Bill Gates trigger inaccurate claims that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for livestock could transfer to people through diet
CLAIM
“Bill Gates Vows To Pump mRNA Into Food Supply To ‘Force-Jab’ the Unvaccinated”

SOURCE: Baxter Dmitry, NewsPunch, The People’s Voice, Headline USA

Published: 18 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Possible increases in cancer rates and lower life expectancy in 2021 are primarily driven by effects of COVID-19, not vaccination
CLAIM
“Cancer rates have increased since the introduction of the COVID-19 shots”, which “is driving down U.S. life expectancy”

SOURCE: Joseph Mercola, Children's Health Defense

Published: 13 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Ivermectin hasn’t proven effective in COVID-19 patients so far, despite persistent online claims
CLAIM
Ivermectin is a safe and effective COVID-19 treatment

SOURCE: Colleen Huber, The Epoch Times

Published: 02 Jan 2023

VERDICT

Medical exemptions to COVID-19 vaccines are granted for contraindications, not including history of blood clots or adverse reaction to prior vaccine
CLAIM
Medical exemptions are unavailable even for people who “shouldn't get the [COVID-19] vaccine”, including those with a history of blood clotting or an adverse reaction to a prior vaccine

SOURCE: Dan Bongino, The Dan Bongino Show

Published: 22 Dec 2022

VERDICT

INSIGHTS

What do we know about the safety of bisphenol A in food packaging?

— 13 Feb 2023

SUMMARY Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical that has been used for decades to make certain plastics and resins. These materials are used as a coating in food and drink cans and r...