assessing validity of food information Flashcards
assessing validity
source
purpose
context
presentation of evidence
language
source
the place where the information has come from or was found (includes the author and their credentials)
source q’s to ask
what type of publication is the information from?
who wrote the article?
what are their credentials?
do they work for someone or are they independent?
how much expertise do they have on the topic?
purpose
the aim, the focus or the message being conveyed in the information
purpose q’s
why has this been written?
what is the key message of this information?
is it fact or opinion?
is it trying to educate and provide facts or persuade thinking or sell a product?
is there a bias?
context
the circumstances that form the setting for the information (why has it been written?
context q’s
when was the information written?
has the information been written to inform the audience about current scientific evidence?
what is the background information that underpins this piece of information?
why did the author write this piece of information? What led to its development?
presentation of evidence
the method of research and data collection
presentation of evidence q’s
are there references to data within the information?
has the data been collected from a valid source that used reliable research methods?
can the data be backed up by multiple sources (is there consistency)
has the evidence been peer reviewed by experts in the field?
how recent is the evidence and is there new evidence that supersedes it?
language used
the style of a piece of writing
formal, informal, conversational, academic, opinion, analysis, impartial, entertaining
evidence based information
true/factual information about health, food and nutrition with scientific evidence as backing
evidence based research
using data and research to inform decisions rather than relying on personal opinion to determine recommendations and advice
tool for determining if research is evidence based
NED
New
Experts
Data
New
Do authors regularly review new and emerging research and make adjustments to their recommendations?
Experts
Are there industry professionals such as dietitians, nutritionists and doctors working together to develop these recommendations?
Data
Is there evidence to support the claims or recommendations? Evidence must include trustworthy research studies, references from reputable sources and data
contemporary
refers to modern foods that reflect current trends
functional foods
foods that provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition
Food fad
a diet that is popular in society for a short period of time
food trend
changes or movement in food consumption that are generally long term changes
diet
typical foods an individual consumes
nutritional efficacy
the strength or quality of nutritional evidence, claims or information. it refers to a food trend or diet’s capacity to provide an individual with a beneficial health outcome
nutrition content claim
a statement made by a manufacturer about the amount of a nutrient, energy or a biologically active substance in the food
e.g “low in fat” or “good source of calcium”
health claim
a statement made about the relationship between a food and a health effect
general level health claim
are about a nutrient or substance in a food, or the food itself and its effect on health
E.g “calcium for healthy bones and teeth”
high level health claim
are about a nutrient or substance in a food and its relationship to a serious disease or to a biomarker of a serious disease
e.g “folic acid reduces the risk of foetal neural tube defects”
or
“Phytosterols may reduce blood cholesterol”
Claim flow chart
- Does it mention a health function?
Yes: General health claim
No: Nutrition content claim
- Does it mention a disease or biomarker?
Yes: High level health claim
commercial gain
compensation in money as part of a scheme or effort to generate income or financial advantage
ethics
moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity
effectiveness of the product
the degree to which something is successful in producing a desire or intended result; success
