UNITED STATES – You cannot browse a grocery store or pharmacy without being subject to labels that promote health benefits. In the beverage aisle, you might find “prebiotic” sodas that supposedly support “gut health”. In the beauty department, you will see “medical-grade” serums, “probiotic” facial creams and “skin detoxing” treatments. Go to the supplements section for promises of “immunity support”, “hormone balance” and “energy enhancement”.
Consumers are often inundated with confusing options as more companies position themselves as healthy. Buyers are prioritising scientific evidence, said analyst Sienna Piccioni, head of beauty at WGSN, a trend forecasting company. But they cannot always separate fact from fiction: A 2021 study suggested that people who trust science were more likely to share false claims that contained scientific references than claims that did not.
“There are just too many brands,” said Dr Kevin Klatt, an assistant research scientist in the department of nutrition sciences and toxicology at the University of California, Berkeley.Companies often try to cash in on fads such as adaptogens and activated charcoal, which you can find listed on items including cookie packaging and toothpaste tubes.
Manufacturers use words without clear and specific definitions – such as “aids”, “promotes”, “supports”, “stimulates”, “boosts” and “optimises” – to suggest positive health outcomes. “They’re implying the product works, and then on the same label, much less visible, is the fact that there’s no evidence that it works,” said Dr Josh Bloom, director of chemical and pharmaceutical sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Still, he said, people see a word such as “supports” and might assume the product will treat their symptoms.
“What you want to see are the results of actual rigorous studies of the product itself, showing that it works,” Mr Jarry said. “But that’s almost never the case.”If you are trying to get a feel for the legitimacy of a product, the FTC recommends doing a search for the name of the product online, plus the words “review”, “complaint” or “scam”.
Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)
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