Our editorial standards

We start with the question a reader is trying to answer. For safety rules and labeling requirements, we prioritize the relevant public authority. For scientific explanations, we distinguish established mechanisms from findings that remain contested or difficult to generalize.

Sources linked in our guides include the FDA, USDA, WHO, NHS, Food Standards Agency, CDC and EFSA. Reference does not imply endorsement or affiliation. Guidance can change, and rules from one jurisdiction may not apply in another.

  1. Identify the claim. Is it about composition, food safety, an association, or a demonstrated intervention effect?
  2. Check the relevant context. Consider the population, exposure, food format and comparison.
  3. Separate observation from causation. A correlation or plausible mechanism is not sufficient proof of a health outcome.
  4. State a usable interpretation. Explain what a reader can reasonably do without overstating certainty.

What the evidence badges mean

Strong evidence or guidance: an established scientific principle or a clearly identified recommendation from a relevant public authority. It is not a formal GRADE assessment.
Pattern-level evidence: findings about eating patterns or food groups that should not be converted into precise promises for one meal.
Mechanism explained: an account of how food behaves physically or chemically. It does not, by itself, establish a clinical benefit or harm.

Where evidence is limited, mixed or indirect, we say so in the text. Our badges are navigation aids, not certificates that a claim will apply equally to every person.

What we do not provide

We do not diagnose conditions, prescribe diets, manage emergencies or assess whether a specific questionable food is safe to eat. We do not present the site as a clinical service or claim professional credentials for an unnamed reviewer.

People with allergies, pregnancy-related concerns, medical conditions or a history of eating disorders may need individual support. A qualified clinician or registered dietitian can help translate general information into an appropriate plan.

Corrections and topic suggestions

If a passage seems inaccurate, unclear or out of step with current guidance, send the page address, the relevant wording and a reliable source where possible. We consider substantive corrections and suggestions; we cannot promise a response or publication schedule.

External sources remain responsible for their own material. We do not receive a commission when you follow the reference links included in these guides.

Contact the Editorial Team