Hadza people don’t really like tubers, but they eat them a lot when berries aren’t around — so tubers are like a backup food when their favorite stuff isn’t available.
Scientific Claim
Tubers are classified as fallback foods among Hadza hunter-gatherers because they are the most continuously available but least preferred food source, consumed more frequently when preferred foods like berries are scarce.
Original Statement
“Tubers fit the definition of fallback foods because they are the most continuously available but least preferred foods. Tubers are more often taken when berries are least available.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design cannot support claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The claim uses descriptive language matching the abstract’s definition of fallback foods. No causal verbs are used. The evidence is directly quoted and appropriately framed.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Tubers as fallback foods and their impact on Hadza hunter-gatherers.
The study found that Hadza people like honey and berries best, but eat tubers most when those favorites aren’t around—making tubers their backup food when nothing better is available.