Food and fake news, here is the decalogue to orient yourself against 'hoaxes'

- 93% of the participants correctly recognised as false the statement that eliminating carbohydrates from the diet is an effective and healthy way to lose weight.

- 90% identified the idea that light or sugar-free products automatically make people lose weight as false.

- 77% responded correctly to the question concerning the consumption of fruit after meals, acknowledging that there is no scientific evidence against it.

- 74% correctly indicated that cane sugar is basically equivalent to white sugar from a nutritional point of view.

- The question of gluten was more nuanced: 67% of the participants recognised that gluten is only harmful for people with coeliac disease, while about one third of the respondents showed uncertainty or gave an incorrect answer.

To help citizens find their way around the online information landscape, the Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Department of the Iss has produced a decalogue. The document, based on the most recent scientific evidence on disinformation, proposes practical tools to develop a critical reading of information in the field of food and health. "The aim," concludes Laura Rossi, director of the Food, Nutrition and Health Department of the Iss, "is that this decalogue can become a useful tool for citizens, health professionals and communication operators".

Here are the ten suggestions

Distrust of simple solutions to complex problems

If something promises quick and universal results (e.g. 'detox', 'miracle cure', 'lose 5 kg in a week without diet or exercise'), it is most likely not supported by solid evidence

Ask yourself: where does the information come from?

Source, author and expertise matter: in the media and on social media in particular, anyone can disseminate content without qualification, with very variable quality (e.g. someone promoting a diet or supplement without declaring any commercial interests)

Beware of emotional language

Fake news works because it appeals to fear, hope or indignation: emotive content (e.g. "This food is poisoning you every day!", "Shocking discovery that nutritionists don't want you to know about") spreads faster and is more believed

Do not confuse personal experience with scientific evidence

Testimonials ('it worked for me', 'I eliminated gluten and I feel better',) are not equivalent to evidence: science is based on controlled and replicable studies

Beware of partial information

Much information is not completely false, but incomplete or decontextualised, presenting only the benefits (e.g. 'This supplement strengthens the immune system' → without stating for whom, under what conditions or with what evidence). This too is bad information.

Beware of 'social consensus' (likes, shares, followers)

Popularity is not synonymous with truth: approval or popularity mechanisms on social media make even false content seem trustworthy (e.g. "a post with thousands of likes promoting a 'miracle' diet with no scientific basis; "a viral video spreading misinformation but being shared because 'everyone is talking about it')

Don't stay in your 'bubble'

Recognise your cognitive bias, i.e. confirmation of what you believe (confirmation bias) We tend to believe what confirms our ideas: fake news exploits this very mechanism. For example, if you think that 'sugar is the main culprit of all diseases', you are more likely to believe messages that demonise it, even without a solid scientific basis.

Check if there is a scientific consensus

A single study is not enough: reliable recommendations come from the overall assessment of evidence, not from isolated results. "One study shows that coffee is bad for you", only one study is cited, ignoring all other evidence (cherry picking)

Stop before you share

A simple 'pause and check' significantly reduces the spread of fake news: impulse sharing is one of the main drivers of misinformation. For example, when you share an article with a sensationalist title on social media without reading the full content or share a post just because it strikes you or confirms what you think

Trains critical thinking

Learning to recognise techniques, often manipulative, used in misinformation (e.g. generalisations, cherry picking) helps to become more resistant to fake news (e.g. 'Revolutionary discovery that doctors don't want you to know about' is an example of using sensationalist language to attract attention and create mistrust.