We employ a rigorous, multi-stage verification process inspired by leading fact-checking organizations and academic research standards, prioritizing high-quality scientific evidence and source diversity.
We follow the established evidence pyramid, prioritizing systematic reviews and meta-analyses over single studies, RCTs over observational studies, and peer-reviewed research over anecdotes.
Industry funding creates conflicts of interest. We prioritize independent research from EPIC-Oxford, EAT-Lancet Commission, PCRM, and peer-reviewed journals without industry ties.
Every claim is traceable to primary sources with direct links to research papers, government reports, and authoritative sources. We implement ClaimReview structured data for maximum reach.
We distinguish between whole food studies and isolated nutrient trials. A beta-carotene supplement study doesn't tell us about carrots—context matters in nutrition research.
We identify topic category, claim type, and controversy level. For nutrition questions involving animal products, we flag for enhanced source diversity. We generate multiple search query variants to ensure comprehensive coverage.
We search across trusted domains including The Lancet, BMJ, JAMA, Nature, CDC, WHO, Harvard Health, and independent nutrition research institutions. Each URL is validated for accessibility and relevance.
Each source receives a quality score (0-100) based on study design, journal impact factor, recency, sample size, and citation count. We prioritize high-quality evidence and exclude sources scoring below 40.
We synthesize findings using AI with explicit instructions to prioritize high-quality evidence, acknowledge uncertainty, distinguish correlation from causation, flag industry funding, and note study limitations.
We assign one of five ratings following International Fact-Checking Network standards:
Nutrition research is particularly susceptible to industry influence. Studies funded by the dairy industry tend to show favorable results for dairy, while meat industry research often downplays health risks. To combat this bias, we:
Factual claims with scientific evidence, government data, or documented events—particularly health/nutrition claims, scientific facts, historical events, and policy claims.
Note: Scientific understanding evolves. A claim rated "Mostly True" today may require revision as new research emerges. Check publication dates and recognize that older verifications may not reflect current knowledge.
