Susceptibility to COVID-19 Nutrition Misinformation and Eating Behavior Change during Lockdowns: An International Web-Based Survey

Abstract

To understand the susceptibility to nutrition-health misinformation related to preventing, treating, or mitigating the risk of COVID-19 during the initial lockdowns around the world, the present international web-based survey study (15 April–15 May 2020) gauged participants’ (n = 3707) level of nutrition-health misinformation discernment by presenting them with 25 statements (including unfounded or unproven claims circulated at the time), alongside the influence of information sources of varying quality on the frequency of changes in their eating behavior and the extent of misinformation held, depending on the source used for such changes. Results revealed widespread misinformation about food, eating, and health practices related to COVID-19, with the 25 statements put to participants receiving up to 43% misinformed answers (e.g., ‘It is safe to eat fruits and vegetables that have been washed with soap or diluted bleach’). Whereas higher quality information sources (nutrition scientists, nutrition professionals) had the biggest influence on eating behavior change, we found greater misinformation susceptibility when relying on poor quality sources for changing diet. Appropriate discernment of misinformation was weakest amongst participants who more frequently changed their eating behavior because of information from poor quality sources, suggesting disparities in the health risks/safety of the changes performed.

Medical Misinformation in Polish on the World Wide Web During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period: Infodemiology Study

“…The literature has delved into the analysis of medical information, particularly those related to nutrition, that has been deemed false or misleading [ 7 , 29 ]. While discussions regarding the impact of disinformation and misinformation on knowledge levels and nutritional decision-making are commonplace, there is a relatively infrequent analysis of the extent of such content on the internet [ 30 ]. Several efforts have been made to quantify the phenomenon of nutrition disinformation during the pandemic period.…”

Exploring Australian News Media Portrayals of Sustainable and Plant-Based Diets

“…The pervasive influence of misinformation disseminated through news media has profound implications for public health. Inaccurate or misleading health information can fuel vaccine hesitancy and lead to incorrect interpretations of scientific evidence as well as have impacts on mental health and diet behaviours [40][41][42]. False narratives surrounding health may undermine trust in healthcare institutions and health guidelines, impeding effective public health interventions [40].…”

Diet-Nutrition Information Seeking, Source Trustworthiness, and Eating Behavior Changes: An International Web-Based Survey

“…The proliferation of diet-nutrition information sources in today's digital era has brought both opportunities and challenges. While access to information has increased, so has the prevalence of misinformation and misleading claims regarding diet and nutrition [1,2]. Understanding how individuals navigate this landscape of information and evaluate the trustworthiness of sources is crucial for combating the risks associated with misinformation and potentially ill-informed dietary decisions with harmful health consequences [1].…”

“…This abundance of information, however, comes with inherent challenges, as the accuracy and reliability of the information are not guaranteed [8,9]. Misinformation in diet and nutrition can encompass a wide range of deceptive claims, unfounded recommendations, and pseudoscientific theories, often driven by commercial or political interests or personal beliefs [1]. This can mislead individuals, undermine trust in science, and contribute to the adoption of potentially harmful dietary behaviors [10,11].…”

“…The significance of trustworthiness judgments in fighting misinformation can be viewed from two perspectives. Firstly, by promoting trust in science, scientific institutions, and credentialed professionals, individuals may be more likely to rely on evidence-based information, reducing their vulnerability to misinformation [1,[19][20][21][22] while likely increasing the odds of better informed decisions regarding diet and nutrition. However, the relationship between trust levels and the true quality of diet-nutrition information sources sought remains an area that lacks exploration.…”