Toxins

Was "vitamin" B17 prohibited for its "cancer-killing properties"? No, that's not true: The only thing it is known for is its ability to cause cyanide poisoning, not to treat cancer. Also, what social media refers to as a "vitamin" is not a vitamin. The claim appeared in a video published on Facebook on March 1, 2023. A male narrator began:…

Did a 2020 Australian study find dangerous levels of heavy metals in pink Himalayan salt? No, that's not true: Although the study found metal contaminants, all pink salt samples in the study -- with the exception of one, from Peru -- were within safe and allowable limits. The claim appeared in a Facebook post (archived here) on March 2, 2023.…

Does oil pulling -- gargling with oil -- serve as a remedy for root canal infections and cavities? No, that's not true: Numerous credible oral health organizations and medical professionals have stated that while there may be benefits to the ancient technique, the science behind what this method offers to remedy oral health issues has yet to be explored in…

Are there "electric" and "magnetic" foods that people should be eating in balance with each other to give their bodies what they need? No, that's not true: Neither term is used to describe food in the disciplines of food science, nutrition or horticulture. A University of Nebraska professor and food scientist called the notion "nonsense." The claim appeared in a…

Does heavy metal detox cure autism? No, that's not true: An expert told Lead Stories there is "no evidence" that substantiates the claim that taking something for a "heavy metal detox" can cure autism. There is no known cause or cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other experts say, as of the publication…

Is the new Er blood group due to a genetic variation caused by COVID-19 mRNA vaccines or vaccine injury? No, that's not true: An expert from the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Research told Lead Stories that the blood type has been recognized in research for decades. The claim appeared in a video on Instagram on December…

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…

Did police in Kennesaw, Georgia, investigate a toxin-laced tissue that was reportedly placed on a gas pump handle by human traffickers to incapacitate their victims? No, that's not true: Lead Stories contacted two law enforcement agencies in Cobb County, Georgia, where the incident allegedly took place, and neither had any record of that, nor of it being reported. The person…

Does a newly released dataset show that COVID-19 is a deadly "experimental toxin"? And does Dr. Anthony Fauci's resignation have anything to do with it? No, neither are true: the claims recycle old falsehoods based on a distortion of publicly available information, and new reports do not support it. Fauci, 81, the country's top virologist, started talking about stepping down…

Does cutting an onion in two, placing the onion halves in your socks and sleeping through the night with them sticking to your feet help combat the flu and cold symptoms by drawing out toxins? No, that's not true: While the National Onion Association website states that onions support your health in various ways, such as defending against cancers and…