News
Montreal Gazette - Don't swallow the hype over food claims
Published: 24 October 2011
(Chemistry prof Joe Schwarcz)
"Blueberries may reduce the growth of breast cancer! Apples and pears reduce the chance of stroke!
I bet I have your attention now. But those are not my words - they're recent newspaper headlines. It seems that virtually every day some new study comes out touting the ability of this or that food to extend our earthly existence. Usually the researchers themselves are modest with their claims and end their discussion with the inevitable call for more research. But then the media latch on. And before long, a smidgen of science is blended with a dash of hope and a healthy dose of hype to cook up a scrumptious headline. But for the scientifically minded, the headline may trigger a bout of mental indigestion鈥�"
