What forms the basis of health policy?

Cummins and Macintyre (p 436) examine the phenomena of "factoids"assertions that are repeated so often that they are popularly considered trueas the basis for health policy. They use the claimed existence of "food deserts" (poor urban areas where residents cannot buy affordable, healthy food) to illustrate why policy makers need to look more critically at the facts rather than relying on factoids.

(Credit: PASCAL MENDARD/PHOTONICA)

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