Medicine

Did Tennessee prohibit the inclusion of vaccines in the food supply? No, that's not true: The proposed law, Tennessee House Bill 1894, was awaiting Gov. Bill Lee's signature as of April 8, 2024, and would consider any food containing vaccine or vaccine-related ingredients as a drug. It wouldn't ban the sale of such foods, which are not currently on the…

Should everyone routinely take dewormer medication, as a post on X suggested? No, that's not true: In certain parts of the world, the World Health Organization recommends periodically giving deworming medication to preschoolers, school-age children, women of reproductive age and those working in high-risk professions. These recommendations are specific to certain regions, primarily sub-Saharan Africa, China, South America and Asia.…

Does a video shared on Instagram show what happens when a person is "injected" with a vaccination, thus offering evidence for detoxification supplements? No, that's not true: The video originally was posted to YouTube in 2014 by a creator who describes his videos as being for "science fiction work, personal work and play." According to the description on the 2014…

Does a viral video on Facebook prove that all protein powder is made from maggots? No, that's not true: The footage captures a single facility in South Korea that produces mealworm flour for human consumption. Most types of commercially available protein powder in the United States is made from other ingredients such as milk or plants. The claim reappeared in…

Did Chick-fil-A announce that the company was "moving to fake chicken"? No, that's not true: Pointing out that a social media post making the claim appeared on April 1, 2024, the company told Lead Stories: "The Instagram post from April Fool's Day is false." While Chick-fil-A previously said in a statement that it would be moving away from "No Antibiotics…

Is sesame oil a more effective cancer treatment than a dose of radiation or chemotherapy? No, that's not true: Sesame oil is not a recognized or proven treatment for cancer. In contrast, radiation and chemotherapy are widely accepted medical treatments that have been extensively studied and shown to be effective in many cases by targeting and killing cancer cells or…

Is patting the elbow pit, the inside of your elbow, a scientifically proven method to eliminate a stomachache? No, that's not true: There is no evidence supporting this claim, a licensed gastroenterologist told Lead Stories. The page that posted the claim described itself as an "entertainment website." The claim appeared in a reel (archived here) on Facebook on March 28,…

Does stretching the back and arms improve liver and spleen function by stimulating certain "meridians," as a post on Facebook suggested? No, that's not true: A gastroenterologist told Lead Stories that "there is no conclusive scientific evidence that meridians exist" and "no evidence that [stretching] can be used to improve liver and spleen function." The page that posted the claim…

Does a video circulating on social media show a Russian propagandist's outtake -- a live actor having a cigarette break while pretending to be a corpse after the deadly March 22, 2024, music venue attack in Moscow? No, that's not true: This video - which has been used in disinformation repeatedly - does show actors. This is a behind-the-scenes view…

Did naturopath Barbara O'Neill endorse a "concoction" containing wheat and other herbs said to treat liver and colon tumors, as a post on Facebook suggested? No, that's not true: O'Neill, who is "permanently prohibited from providing any health services" in New South Wales, Australia, is the subject of a fake post on Facebook designed to look as though it belongs…