Supplements and weight loss top misinformation themes in EU influencer posts analyzed
Scrolling through social media can mean encountering a supplement promising better health, a drink offering quick weight loss or a food promoted as a "superfood." For people looking for advice on what to eat, distinguishing reliable information from misleading claims can be difficult. On Tuesday, EUFIC and Fundación Maldita.es organized an Infoodmation stakeholder workshop that offered a closer…
A new study has revealed that supplements and weight loss were the most common themes of misinformation found in food-related influencer posts across 16 European countries. The research, conducted by the EUFIC and Fundación Maldita.es, analyzed over 540,000 social media posts and identified 474 posts promoting supplements, 256 posts about weight loss, 242 superfood claims, and 76 detox-related messages.
The study also found that messages suggesting natural foods are better or local/ traditional foods being superior were frequently encountered. These misleading claims often employed techniques such as exaggeration, implication, or omission of context rather than outright falsehoods. Children and young people, as well as those with chronic health conditions or limited resources, were found to be particularly vulnerable to such misinformation.
The study suggests that efforts should be made to improve the accessibility of reliable food information and to educate people on how to critically evaluate such messages.
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