Fact-checking is part of Shake Nutrition's editorial process rather than a single final step. The level of verification depends on the article type, importance of the claim, quality of available evidence, and potential effect of an error on readers.
What Fact-Checking Means
Verification Process
Identify material claims
Determine which statements affect the article's meaning, safety implications, product evaluation, recommendation, or conclusion. This may include names, dates, statistics, quotes, research findings, nutrition values, serving sizes, ingredients, dosages, testing claims, recalls, regulatory facts, prices, and availability.
Select the right source
Use a source capable of supporting the exact claim. Scientific findings should be checked against the underlying research; product nutrition against current labels; recalls against official notices; certifications against issuing organizations or records.
Check primary sources where they matter
Original studies, government sources, regulatory records, official product labels, manufacturer technical information, recall notices, certification records, and direct statements are preferred when reasonably available.
Verify names, dates, numbers, units, and quotations
Small transcription errors can materially change meaning, especially in nutrition and supplement coverage.
Check context
A technically correct number can still mislead if a denominator, comparison, population, serving basis, time period, or limitation is omitted.
Apply additional scrutiny to higher-risk claims
Disease, supplement, allergen, food-safety, contamination, recall, regulatory, testing, and serious reputational claims may require stronger documentation or corroboration.
Compare the final wording with the evidence
If a material claim cannot be adequately verified, it should be qualified, rewritten, removed, or held until stronger evidence is available.
Recheck after publication when necessary
Articles may be reviewed again after correction requests, product reformulations, label changes, new research, recalls, regulatory updates, or source corrections.
Source Matching
| Claim | Preferred source |
|---|---|
| Scientific finding | Original study, systematic review, or meta-analysis |
| Product ingredients | Current official ingredient list or package |
| Nutrition values | Current Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts panel |
| Recall or safety action | Government, regulator, or official recall notice |
| Certification | Official certification record or issuing organization |
| Company position | Direct company statement |
| Testing claim | The identified organization or laboratory that performed or documented the testing |
Nutrition Research
Fact-checking scientific coverage requires more than confirming that a study exists. Editors may examine study design, population, sample size, duration, comparison groups, endpoints, effect size, statistical and practical significance, funding, conflicts, limitations, and whether the evidence supports association or causation.
Preliminary findings, preprints, small studies, and observational associations should not be presented with more certainty than they support.
Product Labels and Formulations
For grocery products, protein powders, meal replacements, supplements, and packaged foods, editors may verify serving size, calories, protein, fiber, sugar, sodium, fats, carbohydrates, ingredients, allergen information where relevant, supplement ingredients, dosages, certifications, and package claims.
Products can be reformulated. Material changes may require an update.
Testing and Certification
Shake Nutrition distinguishes manufacturer testing, third-party laboratory testing, certification programs, government or regulatory testing, and original testing actually performed by Shake Nutrition. External testing is never presented as Shake Nutrition testing.
Reviews, Rankings, Price, and Availability
Factual product data should be checked using appropriate sources, while editorial conclusions should follow the stated methodology. Prices and availability can change and should not be presented as permanently fixed.
Paid visibility does not determine editorial ranking position.
When Evidence Is Uncertain
When evidence is incomplete, mixed, or preliminary, the article should say so rather than force a definitive conclusion. Appropriate wording may explain that evidence is limited, research is mixed, causation has not been established, or more research is needed.
Report a Possible Error
Email: corrections@shakenutrition.com
Include the article URL, exact statement or information in question, why you believe it is incorrect, and a reliable supporting source where available.