The Truthfulness of Nutrition Information in YouTube Cooking Channels. (14th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cook, Rita; Newton, Elizabeth; Metallinos-Katsaras, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 6(2022)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 873
• Page End: 873
• Publication Date: 2022-06-14
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzac066.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the truthfulness of nutrition, cooking, or food information in videos from Youtube cooking channels' recipes/meal preparation demonstrations. Currently, no studies directly evaluate the truthfulness of nutrition information from cooking channels on YouTube, this research aims to fill this gap in knowledge. Methods: Keywords (mealprep, healthy cooking, recipe, healthy dishes, meals) were selected; Google Trends was used to determine the use of each term. Each keyword was used to select 16 videos for a total of 80 videos. Each channel was evaluated to ensure it qualified as a cooking channel, then sorted into categories (professional chef, nonprofessional cook, home cook, or food media company; each category was sorted into health focused or nonhealth focused) for analysis. Both researchers abstracted content from all videos. Nutrition claims were scored for accuracy & specificity (how detailed the information was) using a tool modeled after the DISCERN tool. In addition, the following indicators of video popularity were collected: number of views, likes, dislikes, comments & subscribers. Truthfulness was assessed using the sum of accuracy and specificity scores of the videos' nutrition content; higher scores reflect better accuracy, truthfulness, and specificity. Results: 43 of the videos (53.8%) discussed nutrition information. Mean accuracy, specificity, & truthfulness scores were 4.16 of 5, 2.65 of 5, & 6.18 out of 10, respectively. Both truthfulness and specificity were positively (p < 0.05) associated with the number of nutrition concepts noted (r = 0.309; r = 0.375). No associations were found between truthfulness scores and measures of popularity, except for number of subscribers and specificity (r = −0.366; p = 0.05). Upload source was significantly associated with accuracy (p = 0.009) but not truthfulness or specificity. Nonhealth focused professional chefs had a significantly higher mean accuracy than nonhealth focused non-professional cooks (p = 0.036). Nonhealth focused food media companies had a significantly higher mean accuracy score than nonhealth focused non-professional cooks (p = 0.014). Conclusions: YouTube cooking channels could be reasonable sources for factual nutrition information, but truthfulness can vary based on certain factors. Funding Sources: Simmons University.