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Did singer Kelly Clarkson promote ketogenic gummies to lose weight in a Facebook video? No, that's not true: The audio has been edited from a video originally posted on Clarkson's Facebook page. Lead Stories searched and found no evidence that Clarkson has promoted gummies for weight loss. The claim appeared in a Facebook post (archived here) where it was published…

Do baby carrots lack nutritional value and harm the kidneys, as a post on Facebook claimed? No, that's not true: Baby carrots are just regular carrots that have been "cut and peeled," a dietician told Lead Stories. While it is true that baby carrots are lightly rinsed with chlorine, the amount is "typically less than what you have in your…

Is it against the law for athletes to endorse milk as a nutritious beverage? No, that's not true: There's nothing inherently illegal about athletes promoting milk as healthy, despite claims by Bobby Price in a YouTube video. Staff from the Federal Trade Commission, which regulates claims in advertising, told Lead Stories that "it's NOT illegal for them to say this."…

When applied to the "liver area," does castor oil "break up" gallstones and kidney stones, as a video on Facebook claimed? No, that's not true: No substantive evidence exists that topically applied castor oil can treat gallstones or kidney stones. Castor oil is "generally recognized as safe and effective as an over-the-counter laxative product," the Food and Drug Administration confirmed…

Does dairy intake cause asthma? No, that's not true: Although someone with both a dairy allergy and asthma may experience heightened asthma symptoms if they consume dairy, dairy is not a root cause of asthma. Asthma may be caused by a variety of other factors, including environment, having a family history of asthma and previous respiratory infections. The claim appeared…

Does the "cause to every disease" originate in the colon, as a video on Instagram suggests? No, that's not true: Scientific literature shows that there is a relationship between gut health and both the management and prevention of certain diseases, but it is not accurate to say that all diseases are caused by the colon or gut, a spokesperson for…

Does mercury generate "free energy" as a post on Instagram claimed? No, that's not true: Mercury is a metal that can "conduct electricity in ways similar to copper," an industrial chemist told Lead Stories and the clips shown in the video on Instagram are "all demonstrations of electromagnetism," not energy production. Furthermore, an inorganic chemist told Lead Stories that mercury…

Is the cyanocobalamin found in B12 supplements harmful to humans? No, that's not true: Cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form of vitamin B12 used to treat vitamin deficiencies; it is converted into active forms of B12 in the body. The small amount of cyanide released during this process is negligible and not harmful, a nutritional expert told Lead Stories. The claim…

Has rabies "never been proven to exist"? No, that's not true: Rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals, including humans, and is typically transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, often through bites. The existence of rabies is well-documented in medical and scientific literature, and extensive efforts worldwide are made to prevent and control its spread through vaccination and…

Is a tea made of guava leaves, cloves and turmeric proven to "cure diabetes," as suggested in a post on Instagram? No, that's not true: "There is no credible scientific or medical evidence for this," an endocrinologist told Lead Stories. There is no known cure for either type of diabetes, they said. Treatment of the chronic condition typically involves lifestyle…