Stefano Galli There are many unverified claims circulating on the web about what is healthy to eat: from the role of gluten to the alleged responsibilities of the sugar in chronic diseases, through miracle remedies without any scientific basis. To help citizens navigate this information, theISS has created a small educational tool that allows you to evaluate your ability to distinguish between well-founded news and fake news in the food sector.
The initiative takes the form of a quick quiz entitled "Hoaxes on the Plate: Recognizing Fake News About Food", consisting of five questions that address some of the most widespread false beliefs. The test was prepared by Department of Food, Nutrition and Health of the ISS and aims not only to measure knowledge, but also to stimulate more critical information behavior among participants.
Structure and purpose of the questionnaire
The questionnaire is designed to be quick and easy to complete: the five questions address specific topics that often appear on social media and in unverified articles. The stated goal is twofold: to offer immediate feedback on the answers and to encourage a critical approach to sources, so as to reduce the spread of information that is potentially harmful to health.
Among the terms emphasized in the test are concepts such as Food safety, scientific evidence e misinformation, to guide the participant towards fact-based reasoning.
How the test was constructed
The design is curated by Department of Food, Nutrition and Health of the ISS, which has selected emblematic cases of buffaloes circulating online. The questions don't require specialized knowledge but encourage verification of sources: for example, participants are asked to evaluate claims about the relationship between certain foods and diseases or the supposed benefits of extremely restrictive diets. At the end of the quiz, there is an open-ended question where participants can indicate a topic they would like to see explored by experts.
Why it's important to recognize food hoaxes
Confusing an unverified opinion with fact can have consequences for individual and collective health. Following unsupported advice evidence can lead to unbalanced nutritional choices or unjustified renunciations of essential foods, with repercussions on well-being. The ISS emphasizes that acquiring tools to recognize the misinformation It means protecting your health and learning to correctly interpret the information circulating online and offline.
The role of education and institutions
Information interventions such as this survey represent an example of how institutions can contribute to improving the scientific literacyProviding clear guidance on how to evaluate a source, how to compare studies, and how to distinguish between opinions and consolidated results helps citizens make more informed food choices. Preventive action against infodemic It also reduces the spread of unjustified fears that can undermine trust in the scientific community and health authorities.
How to participate and upcoming events
The answers to the questionnaire will be collected until 3nd June; the results will then be discussed at a conference entitled "Fake News, Fear, and Trust: Food Safety and Nutrition in the Age of Infodemic", to be held on 5nd June at the 'ISS and will also be accessible in mode onlineThe promoters invite anyone interested to complete the test, also to indicate, through the open-ended question, any topics perceived as more complex or controversial.
According to the project's leadership, represented by Laura Rossi, Director of the Department, the initiative aims to be a starting point for fostering dialogue between citizens and institutions: not only a tool for verification, but also a channel for gathering real questions and guiding future information initiatives. Participating in the survey therefore means contributing to the development of useful resources for the community.
Accessibility and durability
The survey is free and designed to be completed in just a few minutes; it doesn't require complex registration and is aimed at reaching a broad audience. Those interested in learning more can attend the conference. 5nd June to listen to experts and discuss the results of the responses submitted by the deadline 3nd June.