Just Because It's Trending Doesn't Mean It's True — Fact checking at the speed of likes since 2015

Does a 2020 study published before the approval of any COVID-19 vaccine prove the existence of a conspiracy to burn chicken farms to prevent populations from getting access to eggs that allegedly can protect from COVID? No, that's not true: The study and its conclusions have been significantly misinterpreted, and there is no evidence that eating commercially available eggs affects…

Does a study released in early 2023 provide conclusive proof that vitamin D greatly reduces the risk of being admitted to a hospital's intensive care unit due to COVID-19? No, that's not true: While vitamin D is known to have a role in the body's immune response, there is "no clear picture of how or if vitamin D should be…

Did business mogul Elon Musk and Canadian celebrities endorse the "new" cryptocurrency platform Quantum Ai, according to a video supposedly from the CBC? No, that's not true: CBC News told Lead Stories that they did not publish the video making the claim; Musk is not the founder or owner of the cryptocurrency trading system Quantum Ai, and he and the…

Is Walmart giving $500 to shoppers because the retailer sold "contaminated" water last year? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that Walmart has sold contaminated water or that they're compensating their customers. Walmart's corporate website does not mention anything of the sort. The claim appeared on Facebook (archived here) on February 1, 2023. The post has a photo…

Is the same RNA technology found in COVID-19 shots now being added to chicken feed, causing the poultry that eats it to have fertility problems? No, that's not true: "Commercial feed manufacturers are not adding RNA to chicken feed," a spokesperson for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association told Lead Stories. Amid an avian flu outbreak that has resulted in…

Has an international blood bank called Safe Blood Donation been opened in at least 16 countries to offer "pure blood," free of COVID-19 vaccines? No, that's not true: A disclaimer on the company's website says the Safe Blood Donation blood bank is not currently in operation and does not grant access to unvaccinated blood. Rather, the company offers a paid…

Did U.S. politician Sarah Palin endorse a "dental giveback" program for seniors? No, that's not true: The video of the former governor of Alaska is an edited version of a Cameo video she had previously recorded for a different purpose. The website promoted in the post with the edited video appears to be a health care scam, as there is…

Has a "tractor trailer worth" of classified documents from President Joe Biden been found at the University of Delaware? No, there's no evidence that's true: Although the school has a vast collection of Biden's papers from his 36 years in the Senate, a lawyer who represents organizations that have sued the University of Delaware for access to the collection told…

Is "Dr." Sebi correct that eating starch causes a buildup of calcium carbonate in the body? No, that's not true: Two registered dietician nutritionists told Lead Stories that starch does not have this effect. Calcium carbonate is a natural compound found in rocks, eggshells and snails, among other sources. McGill University has described Dr. Sebi's claims in general as "complete…

Was the word "mummy" banned in British museums to avoid "dehumanising" the remains? No, that's not true: As of this writing, The British Museum still used the word to describe exhibits. Yet at least two other U.K. museums decided to adjust their language and switched to a different term, "mummified person." The underlying cause of the change was not an…

Did a peer-reviewed study find that at least 217,000 Americans have died after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine? No, that's not true: A published study that suggested "the total number of fatalities due to COVID-19 inoculation may be as high as 278,000" has been flagged by the journal's editorial board for making "unsubstantiated" claims and for possibly violating standards of peer…

Did Robin Roberts, the longtime co-host of ABC Television's "Good Morning America" (GMA) die on January 30, 2023? No, that's not true: As of February 1, 2023, Roberts remained alive and well, and actively posting on Instagram from New Zealand. The post implying that she had died is a ruse to get readers to an ad for CBD products. The…

Did football player Damar Hamlin die on the field in early January 2023 and is the NFL covering it up? No, that's not true: Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, did collapse in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals but was revived by medical personnel before being taken to the hospital. Hamlin posted to his Instagram account while hospitalized…

Did celebrities call for a "total Hollywood strike" until everyone is vaccinated against COVID-19? No, that's not true: The claim, posted by a prolific publisher of fake news, is based on a fake tweet purportedly from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. An Academy representative told Lead Stories it is not their tweet. The claim appeared in an…

Are seniors on Medicare eligible for a benefits card that provides $2,888 in food assistance? No, that's not true: Medicare, the federal health insurance program for senior Americans, does not offer food benefit cards. The claim is a ruse designed to gather sales leads for companies hawking insurance plans, experts in Medicare and fraud told Lead Stories. The claim appeared…

Did Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates or any of the business entities affiliated with him cause an egg shortage in the U.S.? No, that's not true: There is no evidence to support this theory. The claim appeared in a video on Instagram on January 31, 2023, under the title: BILL GATES SYNTHETIC EGG PLAN COMING ALONG NICELY! EGG SHORTAGE...NOW THIS? The…

Is Hellmann's mayonnaise being discontinued in the United States, Canada and other countries around the globe? No, that's not true: Hellmann's will not be available for sale in South Africa, but there is no change in any other country, a spokeswoman for Hellmann's told Lead Stories. The claim appeared in a Facebook post (archived here) published January 30, 2023. It…

Do the ingredients black seed powder, organic honey and organic lemon cure any cancer? No, that's not true: A clinical dietician told Lead Stories that none of these foods are a cure for cancer. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokesperson also told Lead Stories this regimen "has not been proven to cure cancer." The claim appeared in a post…

Is Disney giving away $1 tickets for "women born before 1980"? No, that's not true: The company's website contains no mentions of this alleged promo campaign. The claim appears to be a bait likely aimed at making users share their personal information. The claim originated in a post on Facebook on January 30, 2023. It contained a shared link showing…

Did the U.S. government say that 5G causes COVID-19? No, that's not true: The study cited by the article making the claim was retracted several years earlier. The Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents made the retraction following "a thorough investigation ... as it showed evidence of substantial manipulation of the peer review." The claim appeared in an article…