Tag Archives: ingredient

A Facebook post from 2021, which is still being shared, includes a screenshot claiming that the sweetener Acesulfame K “contains the carcinogen methylene chloride”. 

The post, which has been shared 33,000 times, implies that this explains health problems the author experienced while drinking a flavoured mineral water called Volvic Touch of Fruit.

We can’t say what caused the health problems outlined in the post, but we can say that methylene chloride is a potential impurity in Acesulfame K, rather than an ingredient. 

Information about food and health which lacks vital context can spread widely on social media and may harm people if they use it to make decisions.

Facebook posts have been shared by thousands of people warning that a Nivea sunscreen product for children has changed its formula and does not include the ingredient ‘almond oil’ labelled on its package. 

Almond oil has always been listed on the label but originally appeared under its scientific name only. The label now mentions both its scientific name in the ingredients list as well as a clearer warning about “Almond Oil”. 

The posts say: “Hi everyone, just to let you know if any parents have brought this Nivea suncream they have changed the formula and it contains almond oil which has not been labelled on the package. In case any children have reaction or allergic to almonds. Thank you to parent for informing us about this. [sic]”

The posts both share…