Are we headed for problems in the field
of nutrition? If the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) has
their way, many people with chronic diseases will be worse off than
they are presently. Those of us with diabetes will need to educate
ourselves completely about nutrition to avoid the poor information
that will be dispensed by those licensed by the AND. AND's former
name was ADA (American Dietetic Association),
Currently in several states where AND
licensure has been passed by state legislatures, nutritionists of all
types are being force out of business. This includes, but is not
limited to nutritionists having a PhD in nutrition, but other highly
trained nutritionists specializing in other fields, but give out
nutritional information. Am I endorsing all types of people giving
out nutritional advice? No, but those that have a degree in
nutrition should not be forced out of business just because they do
not want to belong to AND.
However, this is what is transpiring in
many states where the AND has gotten their licensure bills passed.
They consider people not part of their organization as competition
and are going after them with a vengeance unlike many of us have seen
before. Yes, history shows that this has happened before in the
medical community between different professions, but the bitterness
this time is very bad for the registered dietitians (RD) and style in
which the AND is attempting to end competition.
At least now several groups are
fighting the efforts of the AND and their campaign to criminalize
non-RD nutrition providers. These groups include the Alliance for
Natural Health, USA, the American Nutrition Association, and the
Weston A. Price Foundation. These groups plus other organizations
are mobilizing their memberships and constituents to oppose the AND
monopoly. Even consumers will lose the choice of nutrition
professionals to choose from and where they wish to receive nutrition
information.
If you do not wish to have policies from the American Diabetes Association, the USDA, and other government agencies that the AND follows and advocates, then you need to pay attention and oppose the actions of AND in your state. If you did not read my previous blog on the same topic, read it here and the links in the blog. Read the link for starting this blog here.
I know from correspondence with several
people I consider friends in the current AND and outside, that some
of them are joining other organizations where they will be able to
practice nutrition outside the AND and one is retiring to avoid the
squabble. A couple of current RDs will retain their membership in
AND until such time as they are able to leave.
It is a shame that so much of the then
ADA (American Dietetic Association) and now Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics licensure requirements was pushed through many state
legislatures so quietly. Now the battle will be to have the laws
repealed or changed to prevent the monopolization of nutrition.
Check the licensure requirements for you state here,
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