Nutrition information is abundant and overwhelming as it is available on television, Internet, newspaper, magazines, journal articles, and other sources. Nutrition information can also be confusing as it changes constantly because of new studies and research resulting in new information which may even conflict with previous understandings. Increasing claims based on commercial interest makes it even harder to determine the validity and credibility of nutrition information.
Not all nutrition information is factual and credible. It is important to tell the good from the bad so that we can make healthy food choice.
In the next box, you will see four evaluation criteria (authority, purpose, accuracy, currency) that can help you determine the credibility of nutrition information. Click on the tabs to learn about each criteria.
Authority refers to the author or the source of information. The authorship is an important evidence to determine the reliability and credibility of the information.
Take time to examine the credentials and expertise of the author/information provider. The academic credential and expertise should match the field of information discussed. Nutrition information provided or reviewed by a government health agency, a medical institution, medical professionals are generally more credible.
Take note of any disclaimers. A disclaimer is a formal statement absolving the website's author of any legal liability or responsibility for the information contained in the website. Also often referred to as "fine print." Some disclaimers provide good-faith guidance such as, "You should seek the advice of a medical professional if you have any questions about the information found on this website." Whereas, some disclaimers are intended to deny responsibility for the information found on the website, such as "results may vary."
Questions to ask:
Note: Top-level domain refers to the last element of a domain name, found in the web address, that follows immediately after the "dot", it indicates the nature or location of the website. Here are some common top-level domains:
.gov – indicates government or government agencies/organizations, for example, nih.gov (National Institutes of Health)
.edu – associated with a higher educational institution, for example, butte.edu
.com – open to public, commercial or for profit business entities, for example, amazon.com
.org – open to public, originally intended for non-profit organization, but no restriction or verification on the nature of the organization, anybody or entity can register for it, for example, diabetes.org
Purpose refers to the intention of the information provider.
Knowing the intention of the information provider can help us determine if there is any hidden agenda or bias. Commercial websites aiming at selling products may have a conflict of interest when providing information, as they may present only information that can promote sales, but not information that discourages audience from buying their products. Some organizations and interest groups aiming at promoting certain beliefs may also provide biased or partial information to suit their agenda.
When you see a shopping cart icon, keep it in mind that it is an online store, and the website might provide the nutrition information just to persuade you to buy certain products. The information may or may not be true.
Having advertisements on a website does not necessarily indicate commercial intention or bad information. Advertisement is a common funding source to maintain a website. But the website should identify the advertisements clearly as ads.
Questions to ask:
Accuracy refers to the correctness and reliability of the information.
Nutrition information should be supported by evidence from scientific research and data. When information from a scientific study is presented, assess the quality and reliability of the study by looking at the sample size, duration, limitations, etc.
Information presented in a secondary source (not the original research report) should be consumed more critically because the accuracy of information relies on the interpretation of the writer. For example, a newspaper reporter who does not have the expertise in nutrition could misinterpret a research finding while a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist is more likely to interpret the finding accurately in a nutrition publication.
Questions to ask:
Currency refers to the timeliness of the information.
Nutrition information changes constantly with new discoveries from research, so make sure the information is current. Pay attention not only to the publication date, but also the date of the source. If the information is based on a study done many years ago, take note of that and try to look for more up-to-date information.
If a website shows today’s date as the “Last Updated” date, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the information is newly updated, it may just be a computer program that changes the date automatically every day. Go back to the site next day to see if the “Last Updated” date has been changed.
Questions to ask:
To evaluate nutrition information, we determine its credibility (by using the Authority & Purpose criteria) and quality (by using the Accuracy & Currency criteria).
There are often indicators of quality information, as well as warning signs that raise a red flag for caution.
Clues to tell good information from bad information:
Good indicators:
Some warning signs: