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Nutrition Quackery

by J. Anderson, L. Young, and J. Roach¹ (revised 12/08)

Ten Red Flags for Consumers

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 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.

It has been reported that in 2007, Americans spent .5 billion on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services in search of short cuts or simple solutions to better health. Health fraud can be defined as misinformation about health, ranging from a self-proclaimed medical expert who has discovered a miracle cure, to a food supplement or drug that is promoted with unproven health claims.

A person who pretends to be able to cure a disease or health problem is defined as a quack. Problems that help promote quackery include:

Lack of laws to prevent someone from selling anything as long as it is called a dietary supplement.
Almost anyone can call himself or herself a nutritionist. Thousands of people who call themselves nutritionists have dubious credentials from nonaccredited schools.
Research scientists who go public with their findings before their study has been published in a peer reviewed journal or duplicated, thus causing Consumer confusion about what to believe.

A product may state that you can eat all you want and still lose weight, or that it can help overcome the aging process, arthritis and even cancer. These products usually do nothing to improve health and often are expensive. Even worse, they can be harmful or delay necessary medical treatment.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09350.html