Quackery or Not

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Essential Questions

Are television personalities that give food and nutrition information being responsible?

Do they use scientifically valid information to base their recommendations?

Engagement Scenario

How many times have you channel surfed and landed on an infomercial? They can be fun to watch and the product may be just what you are looking for but they are all not created equally. Can you always trust the product? We have learned that deceptive practices have been used in the production of television infomercials. More importantly, we now understand the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has to wait until a deceptive claim is filed against an infomercial. Meaning, it could air on television for millions of people to watch and buy their products before anything is done about it. Because of this, the FTC has launched an ongoing investigation. They found deceptive weight-loss infomercials running rampant. Half of all weight-loss infomercials studied contained at least one false claim.

Unfortunately the effects of false claims on television have impacted the American family. One indication is the unusual items being packed for lunch from home. Today students are bringing protein enhancements which vary from bars to shakes. Some are sprinkling a product that says they are tastant crystals on their food which curb your appetite. We’ve learned that there is nothing better for you and weight management than healthy meals, activity, and calorie balance.

Your team has been challenged to write a script for an infomercial that would promote and establish the credibility of the website www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. While the USDA wants you to have creative license, there are a few guiding principles you must abide by to win this production contract. (See Appendix 7)

There are many attractive features to the www.ChooseMyPlate.gov website and it is your challenge to identify what would hook a viewer into watching this 10 minute infomercial. What will you focus on?

You will learn more details tomorrow about this challenge.

Course 3 Unit 2 Complete Curriculum

Appendices

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Appendix 12 Appendix 13 Appendix 14	None	Appendix 1	Appendix 1	None
Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9	Day 10
Appendix 12 Appendix 13 Appendix 2	Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 15	Appendix 3 Appendix 4	Appendix 4	Appendix 4 Appendix 5
Day 11	Day 12	Day 13	Day 14	Day 15
Appendix 12 Appendix 13 Appendix 4 Appendix 5	Appendix 6 Appendix 7	Appendix 8 Appendix 9	Appendix 8 Appendix 10	None
Day 16	Day 17	Day 18	Day 19	Day 20
Appendix 12 Appendix 13	None	None	None	None
Day 21
Appendix 12 Appendix 13 Appendix 16 Appendix 17