Check a health claim

Paste a message you saw online. We will tell you if it matches a claim we have reviewed.

Check a health claim

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Result: TRUE

Our reviewed evidence supports this claim.

Your claim

Washing hands with soap before preparing or eating food helps prevent stomach infections.

What we found

Germs on hands can get into food and then into your body. Washing hands with soap before and after preparing food and before eating helps prevent diarrhoea and other infections.

Why we gave this result

CDC lists washing before preparing and eating food and says handwashing prevents diarrhoeal infections. WHO says safe water, sanitation and handwashing with soap prevent much diarrhoeal disease.

Reliable sources (2)

Last verified:

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Tips for better results

  • Check one claim at a time.
  • Use simple, short words, like the message you saw.
  • Include the main thing and what it is said to do. For example: “Garlic cures flu.”
  • If you get UNVERIFIED, try writing it a different way.

What do the results mean?

  • TRUE Reviewed evidence supports the claim.
  • FALSE Reviewed evidence does not support it.
  • UNVERIFIED We could not confirm it either way.

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