Why nutritionist licensing is important

Nutrition Forum, Nov-Dec, 1997

During the past 60 years, perhaps 50 individuals without valid credentials have pretended to be medical doctors and actually managed for a time to practice. It is unlikely that anyone has ever been exposed as a fake dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, or even chiropractor. But in nutrition, nonaccredited correspondence schools and other organizations have issued thousands of "degrees" and certificates that suggest that the recipient is a qualified expert in nutrition. These documents are promoted as though they are equivalent in meaning to established credentials -- which they are not.

The most prominent nonaccredited school was Donsbach University of Huntington Beach, California, whose president, Kurt Donsbach, D.C., has been involved in dozens of questionable health and nutrition ventures. Most "textbooks" required for the school's basic curriculum were books written for the general public by promoters of dubious nutrition practices. A typical "degree" program took less than a year to complete. Graduates typically referred to themselves as "nutrition consultants," a term also used by some reputable nutritionists. The school ceased operations in 1987, but some of its "graduates" are still in practice.

Bernadean University, of Van Nuys, California, offered "nutritionist" and "cancer researcher" certificates, "master's degrees," and "Ph.D. degrees" in acupuncture, reflexology, iridology, naturopathy, homeopathy, and nutrition. Dietitian Virginia Aronson took the "nutritionist" course and reported that she got high grades on all tests whether she put down correct answers or not. In 1982, Bernadean was ordered to cease operations because it was not authorized by the state. However, it is still functioning. Bernadean's most prominent alumnus is "Dr." Richard Passwater, author of Supernutrition and several other books.

"Nutrition consultants" who wish to acquire additional "credentials" can join the American Association of Nutritional Consultants, which issues certificates suitable for framing and publishes a directory and a monthly newspaper. Its "professional membership" application asks only for the applicant's name and address plus $50. Several investigators, including Stephen Barrett, MD, have enrolled household pets as professional members.

In response to the flaunting of dubious credentials, dietitians have gained passage of laws to regulate nutritionists in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Some make it illegal for unqualified persons to call themselves dietitians or nutritionists, while others define nutrition practice and who is eligible to practice. The most basic requirement for licensure is completion of accredited training. Opponents claim that bills of this type are motivated by greed and an intention to create a monopoly for one school of thought. The real issues, however, is public protection.

It is unfair to expect people to check the credentials of every practitioner they encounter. Rather, it should be government's role to set licensing standards and to prevent individuals who don't meet the standards from representing themselves as equivalent to those who do. Licensing does not offer complete protection against all forms of nutrition practice conducted privately between consenting adults. (It does not, for example, protect people from the poor advice offered by many chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and health-food retailers.) But it can deter untrained individuals from widely advertising that they are experts.