Early and frequent caveats such as:
It also made excellent use of two independent and skeptical experts.
It also appropriately used absolute risk reduction figures, not just the more impressive-sounding relative risk reductions.
There’s been so much hype of pomegranate juice. It is refreshing and important to see a journalist tell the story but to do with facts and data – and with independent perspectives – rather than becoming a marketing arm of the juice industry.
The story included a price estimate for one brand of pomegranate juice – about $4 for a 16 oz. bottle.
Good use of absolute risk reduction:
“According to the findings, among 50 patients drinking pomegranate juice for a year, about two would have to go to the hospital at least twice. By comparison, that number would be nearly 11 in patients not drinking the juice.”
Good job. The story states that the “team had found no side effects, but added that kidney patients should be aware of the high potassium content in the juice, given the delicate balance of nutrients in their blood, and talk to their doctor if they consider drinking it.”
Strong evaluation of the evidence, including several caveats and perspectives of skeptical independent experts.
The story also emphasized:
Quotes from two skeptical independent experts made this a solid piece.
Again, the Marion Nestle concluding quote was key: “Pomegranate juices — like most if not all fruit and vegetable juices — have antioxidant activity. Does this make pomegranates better than any other fruit? Investigators have yet to show this.”
Not applicable. The availability of pomegranate juice is not in question.
Good job on this, citing research over at the last 3 years, but also concluding with this quote from Marion Nestle:
“This study does not demonstrate anything special about pomegranate juice.The effects of juice were compared to a placebo, not to any other kind of juice that might have exactly the same effect. …The pomegranate people are spending millions to prove what I could have told them in the first place. Pomegranate juices — like most if not all fruit and vegetable juices — have antioxidant activity. Does this make pomegranates better than any other fruit? Investigators have yet to show this.”
It’s clear that the story did not rely solely or largely on a news release.
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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