Get the facts on health
Fact checks about medical conditions, the NHS, social care and government funding of national health services
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Health misinformation can ruin lives and damage health services. Our health team fact checks claims about health including funding and delivery, and dangerous medical claims, and makes recommendations to improve the quality of public information about health. We are grateful to the Health Foundation and the European Media and Information Fund for their support of this work.
As an independent charity, none of our funders have a say in what we choose to check, or our conclusions. More information about our funding.
Latest health fact checks
No evidence cayenne pepper will heal a stomach ulcer
Viral videos show banned naturopath Barbara O’Neill claim that cayenne pepper will heal a stomach ulcer. Like other chillies, it can cause irritation and worsen symptoms for those with the …
People cannot live on honey alone
A post spread widely on social media claims that eating honey alone can sustain human life. This would actually lead to serious life-threatening nutrient deficiencies.
Nutritionist makes errors in listing causes of acid reflux
A social media video listing the “only four main causes of acid reflux” doesn’t actually list the chief causes. Some listed aren’t causes at all.