“Ten Red Flags of Junk Science.”

[Room101]

American Dietetic Association
Food and nutrition misinformation

“Ten Red Flags of Junk Science.”

1. Recommendations that promise a quick fix.
2. Dire warnings of danger from a single product or regimen.
3. Claims that sound too good to be true.
4. Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study.
5. Recommendations based on a single study.
6. Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organziations.
7. Lists of "good" and "bad" foods.
8. Recommendations made to help sell a product.
9. Recommendations based on studies published without peer review.
10. Recommendations from studies that ignore individual or group differences.

Duyff R. In: American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley; 2002.

Stahl P. Status report on nutrition in the news. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000;100:1298–1299.