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Is a Parmesan cheese flavor additive toxic? No, that's not true: Two food science experts told Lead Stories it can be dangerous in large amounts because it contains butyric acid, but the amount of the acid allowed in Parmesan is no cause for alarm. Butyric acid naturally occurs in the body and aids in digestion. The claim, which appeared on…

Is food-grade canola oil toxic for humans since it "starts with the seeds of a rape plant"? No, that's not true: In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which sets food regulations, recognizes canola oil as safe for human consumption. Furthermore, a Tufts University nutrition scientist told Lead Stories that there is "no basis" for the claim…

Did Harry Hoxsey, an ex-convict who had no medical licensing, create an effective method for curing cancer using a family concoction made up of herbs plus diet? No, that's not true: This old claim has been debunked as ineffective and dangerous by credible health organizations since the 1950s. The claim appeared in a Facebook reel published on December 10, 2022.…

Does wearing socks that contain cut pieces of potato help children combat flu and cold symptoms by absorbing toxins from their bodies? No, that's not true: The American Academy of Pediatrics has rejected this claim as groundless. It's not on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's list of "authorized health claims" -- claims about the health benefits of food or…

Is "The Human Meat Project" an organization that harvests food from donated human bodies "to solve overpopulation" and the problem of climate change? No, that's not true: The unnamed creators of the Human Meat Project website clarify in the site's "Terms and Condition of Use Agreement Policy that "This is purely a conceptual art project and will not be acted…

Does the bottled drinking water DASANI contain lethal amounts of potassium chloride, the same chemical used to kill death row inmates? No, that's not true: All bottled water contains small amounts of the mineral, but both a water sciences expert and a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokesperson tell Lead Stories that the level of potassium chrloide in bottled…

Does carrageenan, a food stabilizer made from red seaweed, cause cancer? No, that's not true: A registered dietitian told Lead Stories that there is no substantial evidence that carrageenan causes cancer. Neither the Food and Drug Administration, nor the European Food Safety Authority have found safety concerns with using carrageenan as an additive. The claim that carrageenan causes cancer appeared…

Did the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report that "it is illegal to use anything from nature that is not tested for efficacy and safety"? No, that's not true: The FDA regards herbal supplements as foods, not drugs. Therefore, they are not subjected to the same manufacturing standards to prove they are effective in curing an illness and are ultimately…

Do seed oils, not the sun, increase the risks of skin cancer? Was skin cancer "basically non-existent before seed oils"? No, that's not true: Ultraviolet exposure is one of the major factors that may lead to skin cancers, as well as genetics. Seed oils are not known for increasing risks for this disease, as a board-certified dermatologist confirmed to Lead…

Does a "terminator gene" exist that creates seedless fruits that "sterilize" or cause infertility in humans who consume these fruits? No, that's not true: Multiple professors who study plant genetics told Lead Stories that these claims are false because terminator gene technology was never commercialized and seedless fruits, which are created naturally, are safe for people to eat. The claim…