Unsupported
Soap-soaked cotton balls aren’t a reliable method for removing ticks, contrary to recurring viral claim
Claim:
Using a soap-soaked cotton ball is a safe and easy way to remove ticks
Reviews of content from
Social media user
-
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-08-04 -
Correct
Facebook reel correctly claims that babies under six months shouldn’t drink water
Claim:
Babies under six months shouldn’t drink water as it can result in health risks
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-06-13 -
Partially correct
Cats can transmit toxoplasmosis to humans, but no evidence links toxoplasmosis to increased “hunger hormone” ghrelin
Claim:
"Cat parasite" causes toxoplasmosis; toxoplasmosis increases ghrelin hormone levels
Source: YouTube, Facebook, Chervin Jafarieh, Social media user, 2024-06-06 -
Misleading
Vaccines don’t contain cells or tissues of aborted fetuses
Claim:
Some vaccines “incorporate aborted fetal tissue”
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-04-23 -
Unsupported
It’s safe to use aluminum foil when cooking food; no evidence to date showing it causes Alzheimer’s or cancer
Claim:
Cooking with aluminum foil can cause Alzheimer’s, cancer
Source: Facebook, Social media user, 2024-03-22 -
Unsupported
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 -
Inaccurate
Childhood vaccine ingredients are safe in the amount present in vaccines; cells, animal products, and viruses aren’t part of these ingredients
Claim:
Childhood vaccines contain “mixed up toxins” including formaldehyde, aluminum, aborted fetal DNA, fetal bovine serum, monkey kidney cells, mercury, pig circoviruses
Source: Instagram, Social media user, 2024-03-03 -
Unsupported
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
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
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
