Analysis of German nutrition brochures for pregnant women with evidence-based patient information criteria

•More research on the risk of salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis or listeriosis in Germany is needed.•Few brochures gave a risk description, predominantly verbally (which is often overestimated).•German nutrition brochures for pregnant women should be adapted to comply with EBPI criteria.•High quality nutrition brochures are needed to facilitate an informed patient choice.

ObjectiveTo evaluate nutrition brochures for pregnant women in Germany based on evidence-based patient information (EBPI) criteria.MethodsNutrition brochures for pregnant women in Germany were collected. Brochures addressing the risk of salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis or listeriosis were analyzed by two researchers independently.ResultsFifty brochures reporting any information on the risk of infection were analyzed. Most brochures did not include literature citations and only few brochures gave a risk description, predominantly verbally, which usually leads to an overestimation of the actual risk. Advertisement was present in 22% of the brochures.ConclusionGerman nutrition brochures for pregnant women should be adapted to comply with evidence-based patient information (EBPI) criteria for achieving a better quality of the disseminated information.Practice implicationsThe findings highlight the need of high quality nutrition brochures for pregnant women, which are relevant not only for pregnant women, but also to those responsible for creating brochures, and to physicians in charge of patient information.