Unsupported Health Posted on: 2024-03-22 Fluoride level in U.S. drinking water is safe; people of all ages, including infants, can consume fluoridated water Claim: Babies shouldn’t drink fluoridated water; the blood-brain barrier in infants is not fully formed until six months of age Source: Instagram, Robert W. B. Love, 2024-03-05
Unsupported Health Posted on: 2024-03-21 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: Instagram, Social media user, 2024-03-16
Unsupported Health Posted on: 2024-03-11 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: Instagram, Paul Saladino, 2024-02-25
Unsupported Health Posted on: 2024-03-06 Health risks associated with pesticide chlormequat on oat- and wheat-based food products require further investigation Claim: Chemical found in Cheerios, Quaker Oats may cause infertility and delayed puberty Source: Twitter, New York Post, Facebook, Shannon Thaler, Social media user, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2024-02-15
Incorrect Health Posted on: 2024-02-20 Vaccines don’t cause autism; difference in infant mortality rates between Japan and the U.S. unrelated to childhood vaccine coverage Claim: Vaccines contain unhealthy levels of aluminum; Japan’s elimination of vaccines has reduced infant mortality Source: Instagram, Social media user, 2024-02-12
Incorrect Health Posted on: 2024-01-20 Folk remedy of placing raw onions on feet to cure illness lacks scientific evidence Claim: Placing raw onion on the bottom of the feet eliminates illness Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2023-12-27
Incorrect Health Posted on: 2023-11-30 Anti-vaccination organization spreads baseless claim that global HPV vaccination campaign will lead to “mass casualty event” Claim: HPV vaccines are ineffective and cause side effects including autoimmune and neurological disorders, based on VAERS reports Source: Children's Health Defense, Brenda Baletti, 2023-11-07
Inaccurate Health Posted on: 2023-11-14 Social media post inaccurately claims natural remedy of garlic, onions, thyme, and lemon can replace the flu shot Claim: A soup made of garlic, onions, thyme, and lemon can replace the flu shot and cure other illnesses such as the common cold and norovirus Source: Healthy Holistic Living, Anonymous, 2023-11-04
Misleading Health Posted on: 2023-10-27 Viral video makes inaccurate claims regarding sugar; suggests it causes medical conditions like cancer and ADHD Claim: Sugar causes ADHD in babies, dementia and Alzheimer's in adults, cancer Source: TikTok, Twitter/X, Facebook, Social media users, 2023-09-15