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Croatian Experts Launch First National Food Fact-Checking Initiative
A groundbreaking effort to combat food-related misinformation has emerged from eastern Croatia, where the Faculty of Food Technology (PTF) in Osijek has established the country’s first dedicated food fact-checking platform. The “Food Facts” project, backed by €198,000 in funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, aims to create a systematic methodology for detecting and debunking false claims about food and nutrition.
Research conducted by the project team revealed a troubling statistic: approximately 30% of all misinformation circulating in public discourse relates to food. This prevalence prompted PTF to assemble a multidisciplinary team of experts spanning food technology, nutrition, communications, and social sciences to address the issue.
“Our public space is saturated with sensationalism, pseudoscience, and unverified claims,” explained PTF Dean Stela Jokić. “Throughout the project, we’ve published 147 articles presenting correct and verified information about food, all backed by expert analysis.”
The project’s scope has been extensive, with team members conducting 113 fact-checks of social media posts—all of which proved to contain misinformation. According to Ines Banjari, Vice-Dean at the Osijek faculty, self-proclaimed nutrition experts and influencers represent the most significant sources of food misinformation, particularly regarding fad diets promising rapid weight loss.
“We investigated a TikTok post claiming people should eat soil to ingest essential minerals and cleanse their bodies,” Banjari noted. “This was perhaps the most bizarre claim we encountered. Soil is not food and consuming it isn’t advisable under any circumstances, even if labeled organic or biodynamic.”
Other widespread myths debunked by the team included the so-called “honey diet,” which falsely claims that honey stimulates fat burning—a notion picked up by several Croatian news outlets despite lacking scientific evidence. The team also refuted widely circulated advice that people should tailor their diets to their blood types, noting that research shows no health benefits from such practices and potential harm in some cases.
The initiative represents a significant development in Croatia’s media landscape. Vedran Stapić, board member of agricultural information system “Agroklub,” a project partner, emphasized that fact-checking initiatives have emerged as crucial correctives in the Croatian media ecosystem, offering evidence-based alternatives to misinformation proliferating on dominant media platforms and social networks.
Public interest in reliable food information appears substantial. During its implementation phase, the project’s website attracted 36,000 active users, highlighting what Stapić described as “a need for higher-quality and verified content” among Croatian consumers.
Beyond debunking individual myths, the project has produced a comprehensive handbook for verifying food-related information and media content. This resource provides practical tools and methodologies for information verification while explaining why food misinformation is harmful across multiple domains, including public health, economic stability, and the food industry’s vitality.
The economic impact of food misinformation can be substantial. PTF researchers point to multiple studies demonstrating that false information about particular food products can trigger organized boycotts, significantly affecting sales and causing financial losses. Companies subsequently must allocate considerable resources to combat these false narratives.
The “Food Facts” initiative represents a notable development in Croatia’s approach to combating misinformation, especially in a domain with direct implications for public health and consumer behavior. As the first Croatian platform dedicated exclusively to verifying food-related information, it establishes a framework for addressing a persistent challenge in public discourse that extends well beyond national borders.
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18 Comments
Curious to learn more about the methodology the “Food Facts” project is using to detect and debunk misinformation. Rigorous, evidence-based fact-checking will be key to the success of this initiative.
Yes, the multidisciplinary team approach, involving experts from various fields, should help ensure a comprehensive and reliable fact-checking process. Looking forward to seeing the detailed framework they develop.
Nutrition is a complex topic, and it’s concerning to see 30% of online misinformation related to food. This Croatian initiative could serve as a model for other countries looking to combat disinformation in this space.
It’s great to see a national-level effort to address food-related disinformation. With the prevalence of sensationalism and pseudoscience online, this fact-checking initiative could have a significant impact.
Agreed. Providing the public with accurate, science-based information on nutrition is crucial. Looking forward to seeing the results of this project and the insights it uncovers.
Tackling food-related misinformation is a critical public health issue. The Croatian “Food Facts” project, with its multidisciplinary team and systematic approach, could serve as a model for other countries to emulate.
Interesting to see the Croatian government backing this food fact-checking project with significant funding. Addressing disinformation in this space could have far-reaching public health benefits.
Interesting initiative to combat misinformation around food and nutrition. Fact-checking is crucial in an age of online disinformation. Looking forward to seeing the impact of this project in Croatia.
Kudos to the experts in Croatia for launching this important food fact-checking platform. Nutrition is a sensitive topic, and combating false claims with verified information is a valuable public service.
Absolutely. With 30% of misinformation circulating on food-related topics, this initiative is much needed. Fact-based, scientific information should be the foundation for public discourse on nutrition.
Fact-checking is essential in the digital age, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like food and nutrition. This Croatian initiative seems like a step in the right direction to combat misinformation.
It’s great to see a national-level effort to tackle food-related disinformation. Sensationalism and pseudoscience can be quite prevalent online, so a systematic approach to debunking false claims is a welcome development.
It’s encouraging to see a national-level effort to address food-related disinformation. With the prevalence of online misinformation, this fact-checking platform in Croatia could have a meaningful impact.
Agreed. Nutrition and food are sensitive topics, and the public deserves access to accurate, evidence-based information. This initiative seems like a step in the right direction to combat the spread of false claims.
Kudos to the experts in Croatia for taking on this important challenge. Nutrition-related misinformation can have serious consequences, so a dedicated, evidence-based fact-checking effort is much needed.
Combating food-related misinformation is an important public health issue. Kudos to the Faculty of Food Technology in Croatia for taking a proactive stance and launching this dedicated fact-checking platform.
This “Food Facts” initiative in Croatia is a welcome development. Combating false claims about food and nutrition through rigorous fact-checking is crucial for empowering the public with accurate information.
Absolutely. Providing the public with reliable, science-backed information on food and nutrition should be a priority. This project could set a valuable precedent for other countries to follow.