&Quot;Food&Quot; &Quot;Diet&Quot;

Was the late herbalist known as "Dr. Sebi" (real name Alfredo Bowman) correct when he claimed that viruses don't exist? No, this is false. Viruses do exist, as the world is witnesseing now with the novel coronavirus, which is responsible for more than 200,000 deaths worldwide. They are not just cell erosion caused by mucus from the food we eat…

Did Goodwill fire all of its employees and use the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to do it? No, that's not true: While plenty of Goodwill employees across the country may have lost their jobs as stores have closed due to the outbreak, it's a gross generalization to say all employees have been fired -- especially when some locations claim…

Does eating an alkaline diet prevent you from getting infected with the novel coronavirus? No, that's not true: This claim is a medical myth saying that eating an alkaline diet could prevent someone from being infected with the coronavirus. This false information has been debunked by news outlets and the World Health Organization amid the COVID-19 outbreak. In fact, WHO…

Does eating a banana a day keep the novel coronavirus away? No, that's not true: Bananas may be a good source of potassium and other vitamins, but they have not been proven to prevent COVID-19, the scientific name for the novel coronavirus. The claim appeared in several video posts (archived here), one of which was published on Facebook by bintjbeil.org…

Did a study endorsed by a Nobel Prize winner claim that the vegan diet can cause a variety of health benefits? No, that's not entirely true: The research did not focus on the vegan diet. It showed that a combination of lifestyle changes - diet, activity, stress management, and social support - provided health benefits to the very small pilot…

Does the Impossible Whopper contain so much estrogen that men who eat too many of them are at risk of growing breasts? No, that's not true: The Impossible Burger, in fact, contains no estrogen whatsoever. The claim originated from an article (archived here) written by a South Dakota veterinarian, Dr. James Stangle, that was published by Tri-State Livestock News on…

Did apricot seeds cure a man's cancer? No, that's not true: The New York City man, Jason Vale, is again in legal trouble, accused of peddling a bogus cancer cure. Medical experts say the seeds contain a compound that is converted into cyanide, which could be lethal if consumed. The story appears to have originated from a meme (archived here)…

Have scientists issued a warning against use of canola oil with studies that show it causes brain damage, dementia, and weight gain? No, that's not true: There are no scientific studies supporting the claim and medical websites, including the Mayo Clinic and the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, recommend use of canola oil and dispel health concerns. The false claim is…

Did 12,000 doctors urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to put cancer warnings on cheese? No, that's not true: The vegan advocacy group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a petition asking the FDA to put a warning on cheese packages that "dairy cheese contains reproductive hormones that may increase breast cancer mortality risk." While the group claims…

Did an experienced butcher admit that "When we see cancer in the pork, we just cut it and still sell it to customers"? No, that's not true: The only sourcing for the claim is a tweet from a self-described vegan that included a meme featuring an anonymous quote along with a photo of a cut of meat with an unidentified…