The initial AI verdict was softened after source quality and evidence strength were reviewed.

Verdict MIXED

MIXED — The belief that spinach is exceptionally high in iron originated from a 19th-century chemist's decimal point error

Verified on April 11, 2026

The famous decimal point error story is a 'myth about a myth' with no historical evidence. Historians found no evidence of a decimal error in the original 1870 data.

Confidence49%

How strongly independent, cited sources support this verdict.

Claim reviewed

The belief that spinach is exceptionally high in iron originated from a 19th-century chemist's decimal point error.

Analysis summary

The famous decimal point error story is a 'myth about a myth' with no historical evidence.

Evidence profile

Key findings

Historians found no evidence of a decimal error in the original 1870 data.
The story is a modern urban legend used to illustrate the spread of errors.

Sources

Analyzed across 3 independent publishers

Spinach, Iron and Popeye Internet Journal of Criminology

Low credibility 32/100

Standard web sourcePublisher identified

Iron in Spinach | Office for Science and Society McGill University

Low credibility 36/100

Standard web sourceSubstantial headlinePublisher identified

Spinach and Iron: A Tale of Two Myths Museum of Failure

Low credibility 32/100

Standard web sourcePublisher identified

Citations

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