Fear Sells Faster Than Facts About Food

Remember the toilet paper panic of 2020?

People abandoned logic overnight. Hoarded supplies they didn't need. Created shortages that didn't exist.

I see the same psychology playing out with seed oils right now.

RFK Jr. claims these common cooking oils are "poisoning Americans." The scientific evidence tells a completely different story. Research shows seed oils are "more healthful than harmful in moderation."

But facts don't matter when fear takes over.

The Real Victims Are Children

I watch kids tense up around food now. They become anxious. Say no to meals. Feel unsure about what's safe to eat.

Their parents' fears become their fears.

The research backs up what I observe. Studies show children with food anxiety experience "prolonged and severe emotional distress" and "fearfulness when eating, talking about food, or being presented with food."

We're creating a generation scared of nourishment.

Manipulation Masquerades as Education

Here's what bothers me most: people use fear to make others conform to their beliefs instead of giving them information to decide for themselves.

Real education looks different.

You present the research for and against. You show people studies from both sides. You let them see the results and draw conclusions.

With seed oils, that means showing the overwhelming scientific consensus alongside the absence of credible opposing research.

Zero evidence on one side is still information people deserve to know.

The Psychology Behind Health Panics

Why do dramatic health claims spread faster than scientific evidence?

Research reveals people engage in "directionally-motivated reasoning" when evaluating health information. They seek conclusions "consistent with pre-existing views" rather than following evidence.

Fear amplifies this bias.

A scary claim about "poisoning" triggers our survival instincts. We stop thinking critically. We share warnings without checking sources.

The toilet paper mentality takes over.

How to Evaluate Health Claims

When someone makes dramatic health claims, ask simple questions:

Where's the peer-reviewed research? How many studies support this? What do independent scientists say?

Real health information doesn't need fear tactics. It doesn't require you to panic or make immediate changes.

Good science builds slowly. Bad claims spread quickly.

The difference matters more than we realize. Our children are watching how we respond to fear versus facts.

They're learning whether to trust evidence or panic.

We can teach them better.