Moral Panics About Food Get in the Way of ‘Good’ Choices

From food colouring to sugar scares to seed oil hysteria—moral panics around food and nutrition are everywhere. They're loud, they’re emotional, and they often spread faster than the science can keep up. But while these panics might feel urgent or important, they can actually do more harm than good when it comes to helping people make nourishing, informed choices about food.

A moral panic happens when a person, group, or issue is framed as a serious threat to society’s values or wellbeing. Often this comes with sensationalized media coverage and strong emotional reactions. In nutrition, that can look like one food, ingredient, or eating pattern being painted as dangerous, unhealthy, or even immoral. These panics usually simplify complex issues, and the fear they generate can do more harm than good.

Here’s how:

1. They create fear and confusion.

Moral panics often exaggerate risks or oversimplify complex topics, leading people to fear certain foods or ingredients. When messages are based more on hype than on evidence, it becomes difficult for people to know what to trust—or what to eat.

2. They encourage black-and-white thinking.

Panics fuel a mindset that food is either “good” or “bad.” This kind of thinking not only leads to unnecessary restriction, but it also builds guilt and shame around eating—especially when people “break the rules” of whatever the latest trend says. Real choices aren’t always binary.

3. They distract from the big picture.

When we zero in on single nutrients or ingredients, we often lose sight of what really matters: overall dietary patterns, access to nutritious food, cultural food practices, and eating in a way that feels sustainable and satisfying.

4. They erode trust in science and health professionals.

If people feel they’ve been misled, especially when the advice changes with new evidence, they can lose trust in legitimate sources. This creates space for misinformation and self-styled “wellness gurus” to take the spotlight.

5. They push unsustainable behaviour.

Fear-based choices rarely lead to lasting, healthy habits. Cutting out entire food groups or following extreme diets in response to panic usually backfires. Good nutrition is about consistency, flexibility, and balance, not reacting to fear.

The bottom line?
Nutrition is complex, and that’s okay. We don’t need to (and we can’t) panic our way to better health. What we do need is a calm, evidence-based conversation that supports people to make choices that work for them, long-term.