Safe Food Handling Advice Provided on Question-and-Answer Web Sites Is Inconsistent

Area of Science:

• Food safety
• Public health
• Digital health communication

Background:

• Online question-and-answer (Q&A) platforms are widely used for health information seeking.
• The accuracy of food safety information on these platforms is largely unknown.
• Ensuring accurate food handling guidance is crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of safe food handling information provided on popular online Q&A platforms.
• To identify factors influencing the accuracy of food safety advice shared online.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 160 questions and 625 answers from four Q&A platforms (Reddit, Yahoo! Answers, Quora, Stack Exchange) was performed.
• Answers were coded for accuracy against government food safety guidelines.
• A multivariable ordinal regression model was used to identify predictors of answer accuracy.

Main Results:

• Only 41% of answers were classified as correct, and 20% as partially correct.
• Accuracy varied significantly across the four platforms.
• Answers concerning adequate cooking and time-temperature control were less likely to be accurate (OR < 0.33).
• Top-rated answers demonstrated higher accuracy (OR = 2.01).

Conclusions:

• The accuracy of food safety information on online Q&A platforms is inconsistent and often unreliable.
• There is a critical need for enhanced food safety promotion and educational interventions on these digital platforms.
• Users seeking food safety advice online should exercise caution and verify information from credible sources.