NHS staff battling wave of food supplement disinformation
Two out of five frontline NHS workers encounter patients with misleading supplement information weekly, with the figure rising to 53% among nurses and midwives, a YouGov poll for the World Cancer Research Fund reveals.
Social media misinformation about dietary supplements such as turmeric, St John’s wort and magnesium has become so common that dispelling online claims is now a routine part of NHS clinicians’ work. According to a YouGov poll commissioned by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), two out of five frontline health workers encounter patients who raise inaccurate or misleading information about supplements at least once a week. The figure is even higher (53%) among nurses and midwives, with false information about nutrition and supplements taking up what doctors describe as “precious time” in NHS consultations.
The WCRF fears that patients’ belief in unproven dietary regimes, vitamins and minerals is putting their health in danger and increasing their cancer risk. Dr Philippa Kaye, a GP, said she sees the consequences of health misinformation every week. Patients bring newspaper stories, social media screenshots, printouts from wellness websites or saved videos from TikTok. She particularly worries about the widely held belief that over-the-counter products labeled “natural” or endorsed online are automatically safe and harmless, while prescribed medicines are toxic. As doctors know, this is simply not true.
Some popular supplements involve hidden risks. Kaye notes that people assume supplements are safe because they are available without prescription, but if something works, it contains an active ingredient that may also cause problems. Examples include liver injury from turmeric supplements, St John’s wort interacting with other medications, different types of magnesium causing diarrhea, and various supplements leading to itchy skin reactions.
The WCRF surveyed 795 NHS staff ahead of Cancer Prevention Action Week starting Monday. Cancer specialists are so concerned about public misunderstanding that for the next three years, activities will highlight the risks posed by misinformation. Steven Greenberg, WCRF UK director, spoke of people who believe dubious claims about diet and supplements, including “advice that’s distorted, taken out of context or presented in a way that hides the risks.” He cited examples from horse wormers to apricot kernels (which can cause serious cyanide toxicity) to everyday items like sugar and vitamin C, all promoted with false promises about cancer prevention and cures.
Sharon Moffat became a campaigner against ill-founded claims after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024. After sharing her diagnosis publicly, she received an influx of suggestions ranging from special waters and supplements to products claiming to boost recovery or cure cancer. When she asked for evidence, there was often no clear answer. Rachel White, an oncology dietitian, said misinformation is a challenging part of her job, as patients often don’t realise the danger they may be doing by using supplements without evidence.
A government spokesperson, responding to the WCRF findings, urged people to always speak to a qualified health professional before making decisions about diet, supplements or treatment. “Your health is too important to leave to social media and the internet,” the spokesperson said. The WCRF survey also found that many NHS staff feel ill-equipped to counteract mistaken beliefs in unorthodox therapies, such as “superfoods” or detoxes. The charity is urging ministers to ensure staff receive training and access to trustworthy resources to help tackle the “emerging crisis of misinformation” in the forthcoming NHS long-term workforce plan for England.
