University of Sydney pulls claims elderberries can fight flu

One of Australia’s leading universities has been forced to retract a claim its study showed eating elderberries could help beat the flu after admitting it was overhyping its own science, writes Liam Mannix for The Sydney Morning Herald.

The University of Sydney also concealed the research was part-funded by company Pharmacare – which sells elderberry-based flu remedies – at the company's request. Although it was declared in the study itself, the university also failed to publicise that a Pharmacare employee was involved in the research.

The flu-busting claim, made in a press release and published on the university’s website, attracted national and international media attention, most of which did not mention the Pharmacare funding. "Eating elderberries can help minimise influenza symptoms," the university’s statement said. The university initially stood by the claim but following repeated questions from The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, it acknowledged there was no evidence to support that assertion.
Full report on The Sydney Morning Herald site