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(Ab)use of Health Claims in Websites: The Case of Italian Bottled Waters

Author

Listed:
  • Giulia Lorenzoni

    (Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Clara Minto

    (Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Matteo Temporin

    (Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Elisa Fuscà

    (Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Anna Bolzon

    (Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Gianluca Piras

    (Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Sabino Iliceto

    (Unit of Cardiology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy)

  • Marco Silano

    (Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Dario Gregori

    (Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

The massive use of web marketing makes the monitoring of nutrition and health claims used in advertising campaigns much more difficult. The present study aimed at reviewing the website content for bottled waters produced in Italy to assess (i) if nutrition and health claims are reported, (ii) what types of nutrition and health claims are reported most frequently, and (iii) if the nutrition and health claims could be considered appropriate according to the current regulation in the field. A review of the website content of the 253 bottled waters produced in Italy and reported in the annual report of Bevitalia 2016–2017 was conducted. For each brand, indications related to the preventive, curative or therapeutic properties of the water reported were examined. Bottled waters that included potentially misleading information apparently not consistent with the European Directive on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters were identified. Forty bottled waters with uncertain website content were identified. The information reported in the websites referred most often to beneficial effects for urinary tract and cardiovascular systems. Present results highlight, using the bottled water case study, that website content sometimes happens to deliver misleading information to consumers, also thanks to uncertain regulation in this sensitive field.

Suggested Citation

  • Giulia Lorenzoni & Clara Minto & Matteo Temporin & Elisa Fuscà & Anna Bolzon & Gianluca Piras & Sabino Iliceto & Marco Silano & Dario Gregori, 2019. "(Ab)use of Health Claims in Websites: The Case of Italian Bottled Waters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3077-:d:260585
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rosa Whalen & Joanne Harrold & Simon Child & Jason Halford & Emma Boyland, 2018. "The Health Halo Trend in UK Television Food Advertising Viewed by Children: The Rise of Implicit and Explicit Health Messaging in the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-9, March.
    2. Donna L. Hoffman, 2000. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Introduction to the Special Issue on Marketing Science and the Internet," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 1-3.
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    Cited by:

    1. Matteo Vitali & Mario Fontana & Andrea De Giorgi & Daniela Marotta & Serena Crucianelli & Arianna Antonucci & Carmela Protano, 2023. "Natural Mineral Water and Diuresis: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-12, April.

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