Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digestâs primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here.
Cancer nutrition misinformation on Pinterest spotlighted. Researchers identified and analyzed the content of 103 Pinterest âpinsâ in June 2020 using search terms for âcancer recipeâ and ârecipe for cancer.â [Warner EL and others. The Online Cancer Nutrition Misinformation: A framework of behavior change based on exposure to cancer nutrition misinformation. Cancer, April 5, 2022] They found that:
- only 18% of creators disclosed any health- or nutrition-related credentials
- 68% of creators were generating or attempting to generate profit
- 49% were selling products or services directly on the pages linked from pins
- 42% of pins included cancer-prevention claims
- 28% of pins included cancer-treatment claims
- 11% of pins made cancer-cure claims
- 28% of pins included academic or government citations
- cited studies were often limited to pre-clinical testing with small and nonrepresentative samples, or results extrapolated and misinterpreted
- 36% of pins included disclaimers, which were most common in pins making claims about cancer cures, cancer treatment, specific food components, and symptoms
- 22% of pins included personal anecdotesâthese were more common among pins claiming to cure or treat cancer
The researchers recommend that:
. . . conversations with patients with cancer and caregivers should address potential exposure to cancer nutrition misinformation and providers should be prepared to refer patients and caregivers to high-quality nutritional content and to counteract potentially harmful nutritional habits.
FDA warns against self-treatment of skin growths. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers that:
- no drug products are approved for self-treatment of moles, seborrheic keratoses (wart-like growths), or skin tags
- consumers should see a health care provider to evaluate and, if necessary, remove such growths
- ointments, gels, sticks, and liquids on the market, including those claiming to be âall natural,â herbal, or homeopathic, may contain high concentrations of salicylic acid or other ingredients that can result in skin injuries, infection requiring antibiotics, scarring, or delayed skin cancer diagnosis and treatment
[Products marketed for removing moles and other skin lesions can cause injuries, scarring. FDA Consumer Update, June 9, 2022]
Video of pseudoscience and the law lecture available. The Center for Inquiry (CFI) has made CFI Legal Director Nicholas J. Littleâs June 9th Skeptical Inquirer Presents lecture, âPseudoscience and the LawâWhy Doesnât the Government Stop the Charlatans?â is available on YouTube. The lecture focused on the deceptive marketing of homeopathic products.
Global roadmap for healthy aging issued. The National Academy of Medicine has called for an all-of-society approach to health promotion. The report offers recommendations to improve social infrastructure, institutions, business systems, education, training opportunities, intergenerational connections, opportunities for purposeful engagement by older people, social protections, financial security, public health systems, health care systems, and physical environments. [National Academy of Medicine. Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2022]
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