Fact-Checking Policy
How we verify what we publish.
Every claim on ClutchPost is checked against its original source before publishing. This page explains what that process looks like, and how we decide what counts as a reliable source in the first place.
Source Hierarchy
Not all sources carry the same weight.
Peer-reviewed research & clinical guidelines
Our first choice: studies published in reputable journals, and guidance from recognized clinical or public health bodies.
Government & institutional health data
Sources like national health agencies, public health departments, and academic institutions.
Established medical & nutrition organizations
Position statements and consensus guidance from recognized professional bodies in the relevant field.
Secondary summaries — used sparingly
Reputable science journalism or summaries are sometimes used for context, but never as the sole source for a factual claim.
What Gets Fact-Checked
Every article published on ClutchPost goes through fact-checking before it goes live, including:
- Statistics, percentages, and study findings referenced in the text
- Statements about how a nutrient, supplement, or habit affects the body
- Claims made about a specific product’s ingredients, testing, or certifications
- Any statement attributed to a study, organization, or guideline
How the Process Works
Fact-checking is a distinct step from writing, applied after a first draft is complete:
- Every factual claim is traced back to its original source, not a secondary blog or summary repeating it
- Citations are checked to confirm they actually say what the article claims they say
- Outdated or superseded guidance is flagged and either updated or removed
- Claims that can’t be traced to a credible source are cut or rewritten as opinion, clearly framed as such
How We Handle Uncertain or Mixed Evidence
Health research doesn’t always agree. When evidence is preliminary, mixed, or limited to small studies, we say so directly instead of presenting it as settled fact. You’ll see language like “early research suggests” or “evidence is mixed” where that reflects the actual state of the science.
Sources We Avoid
-
Anonymous or unverifiable claims circulating on social media or forums.
-
Studies funded or published exclusively by a brand to promote its own product, without independent replication.
-
Other content sites’ summaries as a stand-in for the original research they’re describing.
-
Withdrawn or retracted studies, unless specifically discussed as an example of retracted research.
Updating Published Articles
Fact-checking doesn’t stop at publication. Articles are revisited on a recurring schedule and updated when new research emerges, guidance changes, or a reader flags something that turns out to be inaccurate.
See our Corrections Policy for how we handle and log specific fixes.
Product & Supplement Reviews
Reviews go through this same fact-checking process for any factual or scientific claim, in addition to being scored against our published Review Methodology. Brand-provided information is treated as a starting point to verify, not as an accepted fact on its own.
Related Policies
Fact-checking works alongside our other standards.
Editorial Process
How fact-checking fits into the full path from idea to published article.
Spotted a Sourcing Issue?
If you believe a claim on ClutchPost is inaccurate or a citation doesn’t support what’s written, we want to know. Include the article link and what you found.
Last Updated: August 6, 2026
