WHO Didn't Issue List of Killer Foods
The Claim
The World Health Organization issued a list of killer foods.
News posted on
Emerging story
A list of “killer foods” has been circulating on social media that was supposedly declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar discovered that the list of killer foods credited to WHO that has recently been circulating on social media has been around since at least 2016. At that time, WHO denied ever posting a list of foods that they deemed killer. However, in spite of discrediting the list the first time, the food list seems to have resurfaced.
While the World Health Organization does not have a list of killer foods, it does have recommendations for a healthy diet and has produced a set of dietary guidelines in a fact sheet issued April 29, 2020. WHO recommends consuming at least five portions of fruits and vegetables a day, and reducing the consumption of total fat, salt, and sugar.
The regional WHO office for the Eastern Mediterranean did issue a graphic as part of a healthy campaign that contained a list of foods to avoid.
While the World Health Organization has made dietary recommendations which include foods to reduce or avoid, it did not issue a list of killer foods.
