Corporate Influence at Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
It's a shame what’s become of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the largest organization of food and nutrition professionals in the U.S. While registered dietitians themselves often do great work to help people develop healthier relationships with food, their leading professional organization has long-standing ties to corporate interests.
These cozy relationships really make you wonder who they're looking out for—client health or their corporate sponsors' bottom lines? Let’s have a look at the details.
Conflicts of Interest
At annual AND conferences, it’s not uncommon to literally be greeted by candy companies handing out free samples and saying their wares are totally fine "in moderation." And these same companies are also funding the educational sessions dietitians need to take to keep their licenses. How are healthcare professionals supposed to give unbiased advice about nutrition when the system that credentials them is bankrolled by junk food companies?
One such session reportedly claimed, “there is no link between sugar and behavioral problems in children.” Wild, right? When you learn that Coca-Cola alone pumped $2.6 million into the AND over eight years, things start to make a lot more sense. And while Coke has finally stepped back (probably because of public pressure), the AND doesn't seem too bothered about keeping its other corporate buddies around.
Not all dietitians are comfortable with these corporate relationships. Some have formed a group called Dietitians for Professional Integrity to pressure the AND to stop accepting money from big food sponsors. These nutritionists argue that such partnerships undermine the integrity of their profession and conflict with their mission to promote public health.
Still, the AND’s website, eatright.org, bills itself as a source for “science-based food and nutrition information.” But how reliable is its advice when it’s in a financial relationship with ultra-processed food, beverage, pesticide and pharmaceutical corporations, including accepting contributions from and even investing in those companies? Evidence from the Academy’s own internal documents suggests the group serves up favors for their corporate sponsors at the expense of public health.
A 2022 study published in Public Health Nutrition, co-authored by U.S. Right to Know, basically caught the AND with their hand in the cookie jar, showing just how tight they are with these big food corporations:
Accepting millions of dollars from food, pharmaceutical, and agribusiness companies.
Invested in ultra-processed food and pharmaceutical companies.
Allowed its leaders to consult for or be employed by these corporations.
Discussed policies tailored to the needs of its corporate sponsors.
For example, the AND’s 2015 investment portfolio included $244,036 in Nestlé and $139,545 in PepsiCo stock. In other words, the organizationwas literally a part owner of companies producing foods linked to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
Impact on Public Health
The health risks of ultra-processed foods are well-documented. Studies show they contribute to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, dementia, and even all-cause mortality. But when the AND talks about nutrition, they use wishy-washy language that basically gives people permission to keep eating foods they KNOW are harmful. And why? Follow the money! This "everything in moderation" message sounds balanced, but it works out pretty conveniently for the companies selling sugary drinks and processed snacks.
"The fact that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is a part owner of ultra-processed food companies should go down in the conflict of interest Hall of Fame," said Gary Ruskin, executive director of the watchdog organization U.S. Right to Know.
In a statement, the AND responded to what it described as "misleading and false allegations" in the report, calling it a "calculated attack" against nutrition and dietetics professionals. "The report contains numerous factual and methodology errors, omissions, and information taken out of context," the statement said.
Yet in truth, the myriad of diseases we face today are indeed because of corporate influence. That’s why I always tell my clients to look for independent practitioners who are transparent about their funding and aren't afraid to tell it like it is when it comes to nutrition advice.
Looking at the evidence, I’m convinced that consumers should approach the AND’s recommendations with a critical eye. As the saying goes, “follow the money”—and in this case, the money leads straight to the boardrooms of ultra-processed food and beverage giants.
I'm grateful you're here! I want to make my articles available to everyone, which is why they're free. But if you find them helpful, please consider a small paid subscription. It helps cover the costs of running this site and allows me to continue independent, unbiased research and journalism. Thanks for your support!
If shy about commitments, feel free to leave a one-time (coffee) tip through a Ko-fi contribution! Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
© 2025 (C) Jorg Mardian; "StrongHealth" on Substack.com