FACTS, FADS AND FRAUDS IN NUTRITION 



By Helen S. Mitchell, Research Professor, 

 and Gladys M. Cook, Research Assistant, in Home Economics* 



PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THIS BULLETIN 



Material presented in this bulletin is not the result of original investigations 

 by the authors but a summarization of information, decisions, and criticisms 

 by recognized authorities concerning nutritional and therapeutic claims in 

 food advertising as well as faulty concepts and notions regarding foods and 

 nutrition. Most informative material along this line is published in journals 

 or bulletins not readily available to the layman and consumer. 



This publication attempts to present this information in brief and readable 

 form so that the layman may answer for himself questions regarding extrava- 

 gant, misleading food and nutrition propaganda. At the present time there 

 is no adequate legal censorship of radio, newspaper, or pamphlet advertising. 

 The United States Food and Drug Administration, the Postal Authorities, 

 and the Federal Trade Commission may do all they can under the present 

 laws to protect people against deceptively labeled foods, but they have little 

 jurisdiction over advertising not attached to the product. It therefore be- 

 hooves the consumer to develop a reasonable degree of skepticism as well as 

 sales resistance in respect to extravagantly advertised health foods and fake 

 nutritional claims. Intelligent skepticism must be backed by fundamental 

 facts, however, because it is all too easy for the layman aroused by scare propa- 

 ganda to go to the opposite extreme and doubt everything he reads or hears. 

 It is quite impossible to include in a brief publication such as this bulletin 

 specific answers to all questions which may arise or a complete list of false 

 notions, food fads, fakes and fakers. A few of the more striking and popular 

 misconceptions are considered, with specific names of products given only when 

 federal or other reliable agencies have previously published their judgment or 

 criticism. Some of the products may be off the market by the time this bulletin 

 is published, but the general earmarks of false or misleading advertising will, 

 however, become familiar to the reader and be easily recognized in the future. 

 A rough classification of material presented has been attempted for the con- 

 venience of the reader. Footnote references may be consulted for authority on 

 statements made or products mentioned. A brief comment regarding a proper 

 scientific concept or definition of terms used introduces each subdivision of 

 subject matter. 



The Council on Foods of the American Medical Association publishes from 

 time to time in the Journal of the American Medical Association General De- 

 cisions which have been adopted for its own guidance and that of the public, 

 food manufacturers, and advertising agencies. These decisions are revised 

 periodically as scientific progress warrants and are published in convenient 



♦Acknowledgment with thanks is made to Ruth deForest Lamb, Chief Educational Officer, 

 Food and Drug Administration, U.S.D.A., who has read the manuscript and offered valuable 

 suggestions. 



