Lately, I’ve noticed some strange local commercials during the morning news. One uses AI to create talking dogs with mobster voices, trying to sell mattresses. It’s as weird and cringe-worthy as it sounds.

Recently, I learned a new word to describe this kind of content: AI slop. It’s the fake, computer-generated videos, images and posts that are flooding our screens. Some predict that “AI slop” could become the 2025 word of the year.

This AI-generated content isn’t just creepy and annoying. It’s also making it tough to know what’s real, especially when it comes to food, farming and health. 

How to tell if food advice online is real or fake

Nutrition experts warn us to watch out for pseudoscience, or health claims that play on our emotions to grab attention, sell a product or make money.

Here are four quick tips to help you sort nutrition facts from fiction, as recommended by Aimee Pugh Bernard, a fellow mom and an immunologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 

  1. Check your emotions. Does the post or video make you feel a strong emotional reaction? That’s a red flag.

  2. Check the author. Is the person a trained expert in the topic? Do they have relevant credentials?

  3. Check the source. Would doctors or scientists trust this source for health information?

  4. Check the references. Are the facts clearly cited? Can you trace the claims back to trusted studies?

I don’t buy into AI slop, but I do trust Iowa farmers. Every day, they’re working hard to raise safe, nutritious food that families can feel good about.

To learn more about how Iowa farmers work to ensure meat quality, food safety and animal well-being, visit www.realfarmersrealfoodrealmeat.com.

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Learn more about author Teresa Bjork here.

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