HealthDay published – and at least one major news organization (BusinessWeek) republished – this overly enthusiastic story about what substances in tequila plants, garlic and onions may do to "fight bone loss" and a host of other problems. Read the review for full details.
The credibility of journalism is called into question with stories like this. Independent vetting? None. Making the leap from mouse research to what "can be used" in products for children and infants to help prevent various diseases? Indefensibly definitive language.
Not applicable. Cost not discussed but there is no product yet to cost estimate.
First, this was in mice – a fact that was minimized in the story. But we don’t know how many mice were tested. Was it two? Was it 200? And we’re only given a relative benefit statistic – "50 percent increase in levels of a protein associated with the build-up of new bone tissue." 50% of what?
Yet this mouse story allowed the researcher – based on a quote from a news release – to say:
"They can be used in many products for children and infants to help prevent various diseases, and can even be used in ice cream as a sugar substitute."
Shameful.
Not a word about potential harms.
It took 5 paragraphs – half way through the story – before it was mentioned that the research on bone growth was in mice. And even then no caveats were provided about interpreting such evidence.
Besides the headline claim about fighting bone loss, the story states that "Experimental studies suggest that fructans may be beneficial in diabetes, obesity, stimulating the immune system of the body, decreasing levels of disease-causing bacteria in the intestine, relieving constipation and reducing the risk of colon cancer." Are you sure you didn’t leave something out?
No independent sources.
No such comparisons provided.
Not applicable. The availability of these plants is not in question.
The story briefly mentioned past experimental studies suggesting benefits from fructans.
The story admits that it is based on "background information in a news release from the American Chemical Society."
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Monday at #ADA2021, an infectious disease epidemiologist, a journalist, and a researcher shared perspectives on communication of risk in the era of COVID-19: http://ow.ly/ROfR30rMeE7 @AstleyCM @garyschwitzer @berthahidalgo @ADA_DiabetesPro
Shoutouts to @susan_bewley @drkevinknopf @MichaelBaum11 in this call for more than fawning coverage from press releases for these kinds of stories.
Also, linked history inside goes back 5 years just on Grail apparently trying to become Holy Grail. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1408849696416841731
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