Consumers’ Understanding of Plant Food Supplements: Benefits, Risks and Sources of Influence

Egan, Bernadette; Bruno, F.; Badea, Mihaela; Peacock, Matthew; Laccisaglia, Martina; Dima, Lorena; Raats, Monique

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-62229-3_15

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Few supplement users list conventional healthcare as a key source of HS information [20, 21], and around half who visit a physician for another reason don’t mention using supplements [21, 22]. When patients do ask doctors about supplements responses can vary greatly [23] because in many countries general practitioners are taught little about HS [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…HS industry representatives argue that the recent regulations prevent them from plugging this knowledge gap, driving information-seekers towards unregulated and potentially unreliable sources [31, 32]. The internet, for example, is the fastest growing supplement marketplace and a popular source of HS information [20] but deciding which sites to trust can challenge even experienced web-users [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Herbal supplements in the print media: communicating benefits and risks

Peacock

Badea

Bruno

et al. 2019

BMC Complement Altern Med

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Background The rise in use of food supplements based on botanical ingredients (herbal supplements) is depicted as part of a trend empowering consumers to manage their day-to-day health needs, which presupposes access to clear and accurate information to make effective choices. Evidence regarding herbal supplement efficacy is extremely variable so recent regulations eliminating unsubstantiated claims about potential effects leave producers able to provide very little information about their products. Medical practitioners are rarely educated about herbal supplements and most users learn about them via word-of-mouth, allowing dangerous misconceptions to thrive, chief among them the assumption that natural products are inherently safe. Print media is prolific among the information channels still able to freely discuss herbal supplements. Method This study thematically analyses how 76 newspaper/magazine articles from the UK, Romania and Italy portray the potential risks and benefits of herbal supplements. Results Most articles referenced both risks and benefits and were factually accurate but often lacked context and impartiality. More telling was how the risks and benefits were framed in service of a chosen narrative, the paucity of authoritative information allowing journalists leeway to recontextualise herbal supplements in ways that serviced the goals and values of their specific publications and readerships. Conclusion Providing sufficient information to empower consumers should not be the responsibility of print media, instead an accessible source of objective information is required.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Herbal supplements in the print media: communicating benefits and risks

Peacock

Badea

Bruno

et al. 2019

BMC Complement Altern Med

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Fragmentation and complexity of consumer beliefs about food and health is a substantial defining trend within the functional food and nutraceutical market (Egan et al ., ). It is partly driven by technology as consumers can now search for information regarding products on mobile devices and for information about diet and health, in addition this technology allows for small brands to reach consumers and drive sales without the need for multi‐million pound marketing budgets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Ensuring the future of functional foods

Birch

Bonwick

2018

Int J of Food Sci Tech

129

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Consumption of functional foods suggests a strategy to reduce the incidence of chronic health disorders. This message has resonated with consumers and driven market growth. Functional food research has significantly increased over the last decade but few studies have addressed the bioavailability of active ingredients for clinical efficacy. Baked goods such as bread, biscuits and cake are popular categories for innovation due to their widespread consumption. These new developments have often impacted on organoleptic properties of the finished products and thus consumer acceptance. Blending of bioactive ingredients may overcome this deficit. However, an understanding of the role of the microbiome in health has indicated that the efficacy of functional foods is unlikely to be uniform within the population. Further growth in the functional foods market, is likely to require greater evidence of the bioavailability of active ingredients, clinical effect and support for health claims by regulators especially in the EU.

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Consumers’ Understanding of Plant Food Supplements: Benefits, Risks and Sources of Influence

Cited by 2 publications

References 69 publications

Herbal supplements in the print media: communicating benefits and risks

Herbal supplements in the print media: communicating benefits and risks

Ensuring the future of functional foods

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