With the growing body of knowledge supporting the connection between diet and overall health, many consumers are taking personal health and nutrition decisions into their own hands. Individuals are becoming more reliant on nutrition information from websites, television, radio, newspapers, advertisements, friends, and family, leading to nutrition misinformation and health fraud.
Nutrition misinformation is not supported by science and may be misleading and incomplete. It can be challenging for consumers to separate reputable versus fraudulent nutrition information and claims.
The following information regarding nutritional misinformation and fraud should serve as a guide, allowing the consumer to sift through nutritional claims to make the best decision for his or her health.
10 Red Flags to Identify Wrong Nutrition Information
Consumers should be aware of these top ten red flags for misleading claims:
- Recommendations that promise a quick fix.
- Dire warnings of danger from a single product or regimen.
- Claims that sound too good to be true.
- Simplistic conclusions are drawn from a complex study.
- Recommendations based on a single study.
- Statements refuted by reputable scientific organizations.
- Lists of “good” and “bad” foods.
- “Spinning” information from another product to match the producer’s claims.
- Stating that research is “currently underway,” indicating that there is no current research.
- Non-science-based testimonials supporting the product, often from celebrities or manipulative customers.
The best way to protect against questionable health products and services is to be an informed consumer. Be aware of the common claims and themes that accompany nutrition misinformation.
How to recognize reliable nutrition advice from media sources
Internet: Websites should be from credible web addresses ending in .edu (an educational institution), .gov (a government agency), or .org (non-profit). Any web pages that end in .com (commercial) or .net (networks) should be reviewed with caution.
Books, newspapers, and magazines: Examine the author’s qualifications. He or she should be educated in the field of dietetics, and preferably hold a degree from an accredited university (RD, DTR, LD, or MD). These individuals should also belong to a credible nutrition organization.
Television: Make sure that the findings are well-researched and repeatable; one study doesn’t make a finding absolute. Be critical and look for follow-up studies.
For all media sources: The information should be referenced with cited sources. Seek out multiple perspectives regarding nutrition advice, and ask a nutrition expert about the source of the findings. Ensure that the information is current and informed, not attempting to advertise or sell a product.