The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has been criticised for its connections to the
pharmaceutical industry, including an inquiry from
Senator Chuck Grassley. In 1982, the organisation faced mass resignations from members over a decision to support President
Ronald Reagan's cuts in
food stamps and
school lunch programs. The academy also partners with
ConAgra Foods, which produces
Orville Redenbacker,
Slim Jims,
Hunt's Ketchup,
SnackPacks, and
Hebrew National hot dogs, to maintain the American Dietetic Association/ConAgra Foods Home Food Safety...It's in Your Hands program. Additionally, the academy earns revenue from corporations by selling space at its booth during conventions, doing this for
soft drinks and
candy makers. In April 2013, a dietitian working on a panel charged with setting policy on
genetically modified foods for the academy contended she was removed for pointing out that two of its members had ties to
Monsanto, one of the biggest makers of
genetically modified seeds. The resulting controversy highlighted the fact that Ms. Smith Edge, chairwoman of the committee charged with developing the GMO policy, is a senior vice president at the
International Food Information Council, which is largely financed by food, beverage and agriculture businesses, including companies like
DuPont,
Bayer CropScience and
Cargill, companies that were among the biggest financial opponents of a
State of California GMO labeling initiative. The academy maintains that being at the "same table" with food companies is important in order to exert a positive influence over their products and message, although critics describe this as an "unhealthy alliance" between the academy and
junk food companies. The accusation is that despite what good may come of such programs, it ultimately
whitewashes (similar to the
greenwashing efforts of environmentally irresponsible companies) the brand's role in the country's food ecosystem. Watchdogs note that the academy rarely criticises food companies, believing it to be out of fear of "biting the hand that feeds them." Nutrition expert
Marion Nestle opined that she believed that as long as the AND partners with the makers of food and beverage products, "its opinions about diet and health will never be believed [to be] independent." A 2011 survey, found that 80% of academy members are critical of the academy's position. They believe that the academy is endorsing corporate sponsors and their products when it allows their sponsorship. In March 2015, academy had endorsed
Kraft Singles cheese product with the 'Kids Eat Right' label. Due to negative publicity, they entered into negotiations with
Kraft to cancel this endorsement. The organisation also publishes nutrition facts sheets for the general public, which food companies pay $20,000 to take part in writing the documents. A list of these publications for the general public include: • ''What's a Mom to Do: Healthy Eating Tips for Families'' sponsored by
Wendy's. •
Lamb: The Essence of Nutrient Rich Flavor sponsored by the Tri-Lamb Group. •
Cocoa and Chocolate: Sweet News! sponsored by the
Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition. •
Eggs: A Good Choice for Moms-to-Be sponsored by the
American Egg Board. •
Adult Beverage Consumption: Making Responsible Drinking Choices sponsored by the
Distilled Spirits Council. This industry funding also gives food companies the ability to offer official educational seminars to teach dietitians how to advise their clients in a way that advances the interests of the food company. For instance, in a
Coca-Cola sponsored seminar for dietitians, the speaker promoted free sugars consumption for children as a healthy choice.
Criticism of racism and lack of diversity The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has been criticized for its lack of racial/ethnic diversity and lack of response to address the concerns of academy members of colour. According to the Commission on Dietetic Registration's demographic data as of October 2020, 78% of RDNs identified as White, while 2.6% identified as Black or African American, 3.3% as Hispanic or Latinx, 3.9% as Asian, 1.1% as Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander, 0.3% as American Indian or Alaskan Native, and 0.6% as Two or more races. These demographics reflect an underrepresentation of all minority racial/ethnic groups and an overrepresentation of white dietitians in the profession when compared to the racial/ethnic demographics obtained from the US Census. Black, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, Native American, Pacific Islanders, and mixed race people make up 40% of the United States population, yet these communities make up only 11.8% of registered dietitians in the US. The academy has been made aware of this issue for many years. In 1984, the academy (then called the ADA) commissioned a study on the health care of minorities and released the findings in its report,
A New Look at the Profession of Dietetics. In 1987, the academy developed its first Minority Recruitment and Retention Plan and in 1992 appointed a House of Delegates Affirmative Action Committee, later renamed the Diversity Committee. In 1996 the Diversity Committee drafted a diversity philosophy statement and included 'diversity' as a component in its 1996-1999 Strategic Framework plan. Despite the academy's awareness of the problem and statements of support, little progress has been made in diversifying the profession in the past 35 years, as evidenced by the continued under representation of all racial/ethnic minority groups in demographic data. ==References==