Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Credibility Questioned

By Michele Simon
Published on February 13, 2013
article image
Photo By Fotolia/M.studio
Do you love Sugar? Coca-Cola sponsored continuing education courses teach that: sugar is not harmful to children; aspartame is completely safe and the Institute of Medicine is too restrictive in its school nutrition standards. So why has the consumer's nutritional ally, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, teamed up with this mega corporation? 

Reposted with permission from Eat Drink Politics.

By any measure, the nation is currently suffering from an epidemic of diet-related health problems. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases – such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes – “are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems.” Against this backdrop, we must ask: What is the role of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) — the nation’s largest association of nutrition professionals — in preventing or at least stemming the tide of diet-related health problems? What responsibility does this influential group of registered dietitians bear to be a leading advocate for policy changes to make eating healthfully more accessible? Does forming partnerships with the food industry compromise such a group’s credibility? And what does the food industry gain from such partnerships? Why does it matter? As this report will show, the food industry’s deep infiltration of the nation’s top nutrition organization raises serious questions not only about that profession’s credibility, but also about its policy positions. The nation is currently embroiled in a series of policy debates about how to fix our broken food system. A 74,000-member health organization has great potential to shape that national discourse – for better and for worse.

Findings:

  • Beginning in 2001, AND listed 10 food industry sponsors; the 2011 annual report lists 38, a more than three-fold increase.
  • The most loyal AND sponsor is the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, for 12 years running (2001-2012).
Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368