If the presidency of Donald Trump revealed one thing, it is that there is deep-seated mistrust of American media among significant percentages of the electorate. And while it is common to believe that distrust in the media is a largely American problem, there is evidence that Canadians are moving in the same direction. The Michael Flynn story that made headlines on many American and Canadian outlets in September is a useful example of why distrust is growing.

The story originates from Flynn’s claim during a radio show that “they’re talking about putting the vaccine in salad dressing.” This was followed by much tut-tutting and condescending mockery from journalists and fact-checkers. Flynn, many suggested, is a conspiracy theorist spreading misinformation. Laughable misinformation.

But there is a problem: Flynn is not entirely wrong. The claim of vaccines in salad sounds ludicrous, but there is ongoing research—funded by a government grant—to put mRNA vaccines in lettuce and spinach. While most articles mocking Flynn acknowledge at some point the edible vaccine research, many maintain their attitude of derision throughout, as if there is a vast chasm between Flynn’s comments and reality.

It is true, admittedly, that Flynn talked about salad dressing rather than lettuce and spinach, and he implicated Covid-19 vaccines specifically rather than mRNA vaccines generally. The average person, however, reads his comment as close to true, and certainly not worthy of the widespread derision it drew. It would be appropriate and worthwhile for journalists to correct Flynn’s error, but it is disingenuous to laugh at Flynn for believing in salad-dressing Covid-19 vaccines only to immediately concede that mRNA lettuce vaccines are being researched on the government dime.

Flynn misspoke. Slightly. That is how most people read the situation. He made a claim that is false in a technical and specific sense but is generally true in its essence, and to pretend that there is no distinction between these categories will continue to fuel distrust of the media.