American Association of Nutritional Consultants
Encyclopedia
The American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC) is an organisation which seeks to enhance the reputation of Nutritional and Dietary Consultants by consolidating them into a professional organisation.
It offers examination and certification, or association membership which does not require an examination but requires the payment of the membership fee. The organisation also offers an insurance program.
Members include the UK television presenter and nutritionist Gillian McKeith
.
The association runs no checks on the qualifications of its certified members. Science writer Ben Goldacre
subscribed his deceased cat Henrietta, purchasing "certified professional membership" on Hettie's behalf for $60, and Australian nutritionist Rosemary Stanton's late Old English Sheepdog. In 1983, nutrition scientist Victor Herbert registered a poodle and a cat; despite the wide publicity given to this fact, Herbert was able to register another dog as a member the next year. Another person registered the pet hamster of his daughter and another person was accepted after providing only a certificate from a nutrition diploma mill
. Clearly, none of these members are "professional" nutritionists.
As a result of, this organisation has been criticised by Quackwatch
for selling membership certificates to unqualified individuals.
It offers examination and certification, or association membership which does not require an examination but requires the payment of the membership fee. The organisation also offers an insurance program.
Members include the UK television presenter and nutritionist Gillian McKeith
Gillian McKeith
Gillian McKeith is a Scottish nutritionist, television presenter, and writer. She is the former host in the UK of Channel 4's You Are What You Eat and Granada Television's Dr Gillian McKeith's Feel Fab Forever, and as of 2010 presents Eat Yourself Sexy on the W Network in Canada...
.
The association runs no checks on the qualifications of its certified members. Science writer Ben Goldacre
Ben Goldacre
Ben Michael Goldacre born 1974 is a British science writer, doctor and psychiatrist. He is the author of The Guardian newspaper's weekly Bad Science column and a book of the same title, published by Fourth Estate in September 2008....
subscribed his deceased cat Henrietta, purchasing "certified professional membership" on Hettie's behalf for $60, and Australian nutritionist Rosemary Stanton's late Old English Sheepdog. In 1983, nutrition scientist Victor Herbert registered a poodle and a cat; despite the wide publicity given to this fact, Herbert was able to register another dog as a member the next year. Another person registered the pet hamster of his daughter and another person was accepted after providing only a certificate from a nutrition diploma mill
Diploma mill
A diploma mill is an organization that awards academic degrees and diplomas with substandard or no academic study and without recognition by official educational accrediting bodies. The purchaser can then claim to hold an academic degree, and the organization is motivated by making a profit...
. Clearly, none of these members are "professional" nutritionists.
As a result of, this organisation has been criticised by Quackwatch
Quackwatch
Quackwatch is an American non-profit organization founded by Stephen Barrett with the stated aim being to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and with a primary focus on providing "quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere."...
for selling membership certificates to unqualified individuals.