Food News: How Impactful are Sensational Headlines?

Food news, just like media in general, are prone to sensational headlines. Catchy titles that don't always tell the whole story. Let’s face it. They work, at least for their creators. But what about us, the readers?

One day eggs are good for you, and the next day they cause heart attacks. Science is a painstaking and deliberate process, which doesn’t always fit well in the fast-paced, newer-is-better world of the media. Let's discover how we can fight misinformation on the food industry.

Food news and nutrition

The bottom line is that nutrition science is not black and white. It's continuously evolving. There are clear limitations that prevent us from fully understanding it (e.g. scientists cannot ethically deprive humans of essential nutrients). Contradictions in research results do occur and are a healthy part of the scientific process.

When it comes to research on nutrition and health, media reports are often responsible for much of the public’s frustration towards dietary guidance. With emphasis on short, “newsworthy” pieces, the media often only report the results of single studies. Many stories are chosen simply because the results run contrary to current health recommendations.

Don’t get discouraged! In many cases it only takes a few incisive questions to get at the heart of a news story. The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that one study does not necessarily represent an entire body of research.

Whenever you see a nutrition-related article online, remember to ask yourself:

1. Does the story report on the results of a single scientific study? Very rarely is one single study influential enough to merit a change in dietary guidance.
2. How large is the study? Large studies often provide more reliable results statistically but are harder for researchers to control.
3. Was the study in animals or humans? Animals can be very different from humans. The results may or may not be translatable to humans.
4. How was the diet assessed? It is almost impossible to control the diet of humans in the long run. Good studies will have evidence that their study designs are valid. Survey data and self-reporting of health outcomes typically belong to weaker, untrustworthy research.

Fear the headlines

Remember, nutrition is based on teamwork. Much like a basketball team, nutrients work together to score a beneficial outcome. Just like calcium and vitamin D protect your bones, other nutrients form a coalition to secure your body's wellbeing. If news articles say otherwise, trust me. They're lying to you.

From a marketing perspective, blowing things out of proportions works. From a health and nutrition POV, it's a bad idea. After all, first impressions, specially on social media, really do matter. Clickbait is an effective strategy to get your attention. I even use it myself from time to time. So, beware of shocking headlines. If you see something on the likes of "Raspberry Helps You Lose 10lbs. in a Week!", it's probably a lie.

The Guardian did some research on the subject, if you're interested in knowing more about this.