Is Breast Best, Wine Worse or Science a Sham?
ABIX – Australasian Business Intelligence – 20-Aug-1999
British medical experts believe public trust in science is declining because of the conflicting messages about what is good for health. Peter Marsh of the independent Social Issues Research Centre in Great Britain says people's faith in science is dwindling. Depending on which doctors are trusted, aspirin might cure headaches and prevent heart attacks. Breast milk could give babies a boost against infection or pass on toxic pollutants. Red wine in moderation might be good for the heart, but little is known about beer. Marsh says the psychological fallout of contradictory messages manifests itself in three distinct ways: people become "gibbering wrecks"; they defy the messages and deliberately consume what is supposedly bad for them; or people suffer "warning fatigue" and stop listening.
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