Are America’s nutrition professionals in the pocket of Big Food? Story here.
Health Impact News Editor Comments:
In January of 2012, the North Carolina Board of Dietitians took action against a blogger who was advocating a diet philosophy contrary to theirs, in what might go down in history as the beginning of the demise of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the ADA – American Dietetic Association). The blogger was Steve Cooksey, of the Diabetes-Warrior.net website. Steve’s blog advocated a low-carb high-fat diet, contrary to the USDA dietary guidelines that so many people believe contributes to obesity and diabetes. As Steve describes himself and his blog: “I’m just a formerly obese, formerly insulin and drug dependent Type 2 Diabetic… who has normal blood sugar… and I’m drug and insulin FREE! I tell people to eat like I do!!!! …without a license!! Horrors!!!”
The North Carolina Board of Dietitians told Steve to change the content of his website, or he would face arrest and up to a month and half in prison. This enraged the entire low-carb/paleo/real-food/traditional-cooking/health-freedom Internet universe which widely published the story. It really gained national attention when Michael Ellsberg blogged about it in Forbes.
The Alliance for Natural Health, Michele Simon, and others began to take a closer look at the AND, and found out that their corporate sponsorship partners were mostly large processed food companies who benefited from their particular diet advice (click on the image above to read Michele Simon’s report.) The Alliance for Natural Health has also recently reported that the AND is using Medicare reform to monopolize hospital nutrition services.
So now Illinois is the first state, and ironically the home state of AND, to remove the RD-only licensing law at the state level and allow other nutritionists and dietitians the freedom to give out nutrition advice.
Illinois Defeats RD-Only Licensure Bill — The Vote Overturned One of the Most Restrictive Dietetics Laws in the Country
By Lori Zanteson
Today’s Dietitian
Excerpts:
Legislation mandating that only licensed dietetics professionals can provide nutrition counseling in the state of Illinois, the headquarters of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy), was recently defeated. The landslide victory dismantled the 10-year dietetics law, which was considered one of the most restrictive pieces of legislation in the country. With the renewal blocked, the new bill, ends the RD-only monopoly in Illinois and allows the licensing of non-RD nutritionists who have certain nutrition degrees from accredited regional schools.
Public Safety or Monopoly?
The defeat of the bill in Illinois comes on the heels of widely publicized accusations that the Academy is using state legislatures to block unlicensed nutrition providers, including those with advanced degrees and certifications in nutrition, from practicing nutrition counseling. The opposition to RD-only nutrition licensure gained greater attention following an article by Michael Ellsberg, published in Forbes, who accused the Academy of intentionally using state legislatures to limit market competition in nutrition counseling for RDs without intent to protect public health. (See: Exclusive Leaked Documents: American Dietetic Association is Intentionally Using State Legislatures to Block Alternative Nutrition Providers and Restrict Free Speech)
Read the Full Article Here: http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/030413p12.shtml
Watch Dr. Mercola interview Attorney Gretchen DuBeau, the executive director of the Alliance for Natural Health regarding the Steve Cooksey case and the issues concerning freedom and constitutional rights in the area of nutrition.