Nutrition Professionals: Working with Industry or Campaign Groups

A recent article in the Daily Mail highlighted the position of responsibility that nutrition and health professionals have when working with industry/brands, particularly when posting on social media, in order to not undermine the public’s trust in the profession. UKVRN Registrants must therefore take care to ensure any messages/posts they share do not contravene either regulations or the standards expected for professional conduct.

Please read the AfN statement below on the standards upheld by our registrants.

AfN Registered Nutritionists and Registered Associate Nutritionists are highly qualified and skilled professionals, whose expertise is valuable and perfectly placed to support industry/campaign groups and work with them to communicate nutrition science messages to the public. However when working with industry or campaign groups, nutrition professionals must be mindful that they hold a position of responsibility and influence.

Care must therefore be taken to ensure any messages/posts they share do not contravene either regulations or the standards expected for professional conduct.

Registered Nutritionists (RNutr) or Registered Associate Nutritionists (ANutr) working with industry or campaign groups, particularly in the media, must always:

• • Be polite and respectful

  • Reflect the balance of scientific evidence

  • Be accurate and objective

  • Prioritise public benefit over any financial rewards or incentives

  • Avoid misleading advertising

  • Clearly declare any links to organisations/brands or products they are reviewing/promoting/recommending/critiquing

  • Comply with all relevant rules, regulations and guidance (e.g. Advertising Standards Authority/Code of Advertising Practice, Competition and Markets Authority, Nutrition & Health Claims regulations, Association for Nutrition).