what is food misinformation types of food misinformation food misinformation harmful impact on consumer economic status protocols food and drug administration federal trade Commission types of FDA and FTC sources of food misinformation controversy related to food misinformation Food myths strategies in food related misinformation Punjab food authority

1. Controversies in the field of nutrition

2. Food misinformation:
• Food misinformation is defined as misrepresentation of health
claims; health fraud.

3. Food misinformation:
American Dietetic Association (ADA):
“food and nutrition misinformation can have harmful effects on
the health, well-being, and economic status of consumers”

4. Types of food misinformation:
Food and nutrition misinformation may be harmful to a consumer’s health
and general well-being and includes food faddism, health fraud, and
misdirected claims.
1. Food fads or fad diets
2. Health fraud
3. Misdirected Health Claims

5. Fad diets:
 defined as unusual diets and eating patterns that promote short-term
weight loss, trendy and may be popular for short periods of time,
 fad diets have no scientific basis,
 promote ideas that consuming (or not consuming) certain food items,
vitamin and mineral supplements, and combinations of certain foods, will
help one lose weight or prevent/cure a disease. Examples include the
“grapefruit diet” or “low carb diet.”

6. Health fraud:
• similar to food fads and fad diets
• misleading, with the expectation that a profit will be gained
• Health fraud includes products or diets that have no scientific basis,
yet are still promoted for good health and well-being
• Common examples include promises of “fast, quick, and easy weight
loss,” or a “miracle, cure-all product.”

7. Misdirected health Claims:
• They are the misguided statements made by producers that lead
consumers to believe a food is healthier than actually the case.
• Examples include foods that are low in fat or low in carbohydrates, yet still
high in calories.

8. Harmful effects on health and
economic status of consumers
• Consumers are increasingly taking charge of their self-care
• food and nutrition misinformation that can impact their health and
economic well-being
• Food and nutrition misinformation may be especially detrimental
because people spend increasing amounts of money on weight-loss
solutions ($43 in 2004)

10. Function related to consumer misinformation
• It is the FDA role to see that food we eat is safe and wholesome, the
cosmetics we use will not harm us, the medicines and medical devices
we use are safe and effective, and that radiation-emitting products such
as microwave ovens will not do us harm
• Feed and drug for pets and farm animals also come under FDA
• FDA ensures that products are labeled truthfully
Food and drug administration

11. Federal Trade Commission
Function related to consumer misinformation
• Its role is to maintain a competitive market place for both consumers
and businesses.
• It is comprised of the Bureau of Consumer Protection . Bureau of
Competition, and the Bureau of Economics

12. Examples of laws or acts related to
consumer misinformation
Food and drug administration
1. The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (1990,1993)
2. The Dietary Supplement Heath and Education Act (1994)
Federal Trade Commission
1. The wheeler-Lea Amendment (1938)
2. The Magnuson-Moss Act (1975)

13. Sources:
According to the ADA’s Nutrition:
1. magazines (47%),
2. television (34%),
3. books (29%),
4. and newspapers (28%).
5. physicians (31%),
6. the Internet (21%),
7. product labels (19%),
8. and friends and family (18%).
9. Only 13% of consumers from
dietetics professionals

14. Controversies:

15. MAGGI Ban:
• the Food Safety And Drug Administration (FSDA) found a few samples
of Maggi Noodles to have lead beyond permissible limits and the
presence of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• 27,000 tones of Maggi being destroyed and converted into fuel. The
company suffered astronomical losses.
• Later it was found safe in independent laboratories accredited by
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories
(NABL)

16. US Food Security Rejects Indian Snacks
• US FDA rejecting Indian snacks including
Haldiram, calling them ‘unfit for consumption’
• Indian snacks and other eatables have been
rejected multiple times by the U.S food security
authorities over years
• Haldiram’s snacks were rejected on 25th February
2015 on the grounds that it contained pesticides

17. Carmine provides pink,
red and purple coloring
to foods.
Carmine, A natural color that comes from the body
and eggs of an insect, more commonly known as
"cochineal".
Cochineal extract may cause:
- Severe allergic reactions in some individuals
- Diarrhea
- Anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction)
- Asthma
- Hives
- Hyperactivity in children

18. The products companies are selling and calling “ice-cream” are
actually frozen desserts – these desserts are made from Vegetable
Fats instead of cream and milk.

20. Processed meat are carcinogenic!!!
• . WHO concluded that processed meat are
carcinogenic.
• IARC (International Agency for Research
in Cancer) ruled that "Processed meat
was classified as carcinogenic to
humans, based on sufficient evidence in
humans that the consumption of
processed meat causes colorectal
cancer".

21. FAKE
CHINNESE FAKE RICE

22. Fake Chemical Milk made with Urea, Shampoo
and Washing Powder being sold in Lahore
• Fake Chemical Milk made with Urea, Shampoo and Washing
Powder being sold in Lahore

24. Eggs are bad for heart:
• You may have been told by older relatives that having too many
eggs will raise your cholesterol and therefore can be bad for your
heart.
• doctors recommend including eggs in your diet every day. Eggs do
contain cholesterol, but the cholesterol from eggs doesn’t impact
significantly enough on blood levels to affect your health.

25. Drinking caffeine stunts growth:
• children drink coffee or chai because it is believed that drinking
caffeinated drinks stunts the growth of a child.
• Too much caffeine may lead to other health problems, but it has
proven to not have any effects on growth patterns.

26. Energy drinks gives you energy!!
• the sugar in energy drinks will give you a short
burst of adrenaline and the caffeine will prevent
drowsiness for a short period. Unfortunately, you
will not gain any real energy.

27. Sugar makes kids hyper:
• no substantial evidence exists to support
the claim that sugar causes
hyperactivity. Since sugar is quickly
absorbed into the bloodstream, your
blood sugar rises quickly, which can lead
to higher adrenaline levels. Hyperactivity
is usually in the parent’s head.

29. Strategies:
• ” ADA recognizes its responsibility to help consumers identify food
and nutrition misinformation in the following ways:
• ADA members should provide consumers with science-based nutrition
information and help them to recognize misinformation
• ADA members need to be the primary source of science-based nutrition
information for the media and to inform them when misinformation is
presented
• ADA members should continue to diligently work with other health care
practitioners, educators, policy makers, and food and dietary supplement
industry representatives to responsibly address the health and
psychological, physiological, and economic effects of nutrition-related
misinformation.

30. Nutrition labels can help
you choose between
products and keep a check
on the amount of foods
you're eating that are high
in fat, salt and added
sugars.
Food Labels:

31. Punjab food authority:
According to PUNJAB FOOD AUTHORITY ACT-2011
1. Public analysts
2. Food Safety Officer
 1.Public analysts are
responsible for the
safety and quality of our
foods and check that
the labels give us
correct information.
 2.Food safety officer assigned by
government in specific areas by
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT notification
 Food safety officers play an important
role in ensuring that food products are
safe for consumers