Correcting misinformation: Dietitians NZ is not funded by Big Food.
27/11/24
Over the weekend, Dietitians New Zealand (Dietitians NZ)
became aware of incorrect information broadcast about our professional
association during a segment on Saturday’s Radio New Zealand (RNZ) ‘Morning Report’.
We wanted to bring this to your attention, as the comment was made by Professor
Lustig who spoke at last week’s FIZZ Symposium.
Professor Lustig incorrectly stated that, “90% of the operating budget of
Dietitians NZ is underwritten by big food.” This is based on misinformation.
Dietitians NZ has received no funding from food industry since 2020. The
decision to cease commercial arrangements with all food companies was fully
supported by members as an important step to maintain public trust in
Dietitians as qualified and registered health professionals. Dietitians NZ is a
membership-based organisation, where most of our funding comes from membership subscriptions
and professional development webinars. Our Annual Reports can be viewed here.
Despite Professor Lustig's claim, dietitians are not “detractors for change” to
policy with regards to food industry in New Zealand. Dietitians work across
many settings including clinical, community, public health, academia, food
service and food industry. Dietitians working within food industry in New
Zealand provide accurate, evidence-based advice and have been instrumental in
driving the reformulation of products to meet sugar reduction targets. All
Registered Dietitians in New Zealand are also bound by the Dietitians Board
Code of Ethics.
Dietitians use the Eating and Activity Guidelines for Adult New Zealanders to
support their work and are in no way promoting sugar. As a profession, we
agree, we need to look at ways to reduce sugar intake at multiple levels. It is
not a simple solution and requires a collaborative and country specific focus,
one that includes academia, dietitians, public health and industry. Given the
health inequities in New Zealand and disproportionate burden of chronic disease
such as type 2 diabetes, we support health policies that enable all New
Zealanders to increase their intake of whole and minimally processed foods and
reduce their intake of highly processed foods and sugary drinks.
Dietitians NZ agrees we need to know what New Zealanders are eating and as an
organisation strongly support a National Nutrition Survey to understand what
and how New Zealanders are eating. Dietitians NZ would like to work collaboratively
on appropriate policy and recommendations to improve the health of all New
Zealanders. We have a key role in advocating for New Zealanders and improving
access to NZ Registered Dietitians and Registered Nutritionists as the source
of credible, evidence-based, trusted nutrition information.