There is never a shortage of nutrition information in the world so it is up to you, the consumer, to challenge the source and reliability of the information. You’re not alone; according to the American Dietetic Association’s (ADA) Nutrition and You: Trends 2000 survey, one in five consumers report being confused by news reports that give dietary advice. Although some nutrition misinformation may not necessarily harm you, it can put a dent in your pocketbook. The American Dietetic Association estimates that health fraud is estimated in the $ billions annually.
Ten Red Flags of Junk Science
The Food and Nutrition Science Alliance (FANSA), a partnership of the ADA, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, and the American Society for Nutritional Sciences and the Institute of Food Technologists, has developed the “Ten Red Flags of Junk Science” to help recognize nutrition misinformation:
- Recommendations that promise a quick fix
- Dire warnings of danger from a single product or regimen
- Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study
- Recommendations based on a single study
- Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations
- Lists of “good” and “bad” foods
- Recommendations made to help sell a product
- Recommendations based on studies published without peer review
- Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups
Popular dietary supplements are an area of concern because the burden of monitoring of health claims on supplement products falls on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), rather than the manufacturer. The FDA has taken action to remove some products with unsupported health claims, like the recent issue of warning letters to several ephedra manufactures ordering them to stop advertising ephedra as a way to enhance athletic performance. However, many supplements boasting false health claims slip through the cracks and continue to circulate around the market.
Buyer beware! If you’re unsure of the validity of a health claim or are concerned about the dangers of a dietary supplement, enlist the support of a trained medical professional, a Registered Dietitian, or your Primary Care Team.