Authors

  1. Rowe, Sylvia MA
  2. Alexander, Nick BA

Abstract

The third in a 3-part series of articles on so-called "fake news" regarding health and nutrition science focuses specifically on false scientific news-exaggerated or misleading reporting of research, reporting of fabricated or fraudulent research, misleading press releases, and communication of Web-based scientific fantasies. The authors explore the origins of such misinformation and its context within the current proliferation of similar unhelpful "news" throughout the broader society. They call for educational efforts at helping the public better recognize scientific misinformation, and they offer suggestions on how nutrition and other health communicators might make consumers more aware and more skeptical of such claims as nutritional "cures," medical "breakthroughs," "miracle foods," and alarming health scares in news reports.