The dietitians' Washington lobbyists have filed new language to replace the old HB1060, a Colorado licensing bill we strongly oppose for creating a monopoly for the American Dietetic Association on nutrition education and other services.   Read the amended bill here in PDF format.

Despite telling legislators they had reached a compromise, their new language is even worse.  And that begs the question, compromise with whom?  No one has reached out to us here at Natural Grocers to hear what our customers think of the new language.  So, take a look.  

Besides a lot of convoluted and contradictory language, here is where the ADA is hiding their opportunistic agenda in the new language:

1.        Definition of “Dietetics” now includes the entire universe of activities associated with human nutrition and can only be practiced by dietitians licensed by the state.  (bottom of page 1)

2.        Definition of “Nutrition Services” is now a tightly circumscribed set of practices focused only on "essential nutrients" which everyone else gets to provide, with or without being licensed.  How generous!  Basically, our Nutritional Healthy Coaches and other nutrition professionals would be able to read a Food Facts label to a customer and nothing more.  (bottom page 2)

3.       Again, retailers show up under the heading “Exemptions”, but can only provide bogus “Nutrition Services”. (page 7 line 13)  The last version of the bill also listed retailers as "Exempt" but said they are only exempt if they don't provide any nutrition services.  As we have said, there is plenty wrong with HB1060.

4.       Moreover, the dietitian police force set up under the law has authority not just over its licensed dietitians, but has the authority to prosecute anyone it thinks is violating the dietitian law -- without having to show that any harm was done to anyone. (page 11, line 7)

Any ADA dietitian facing this kind of heavy handed oversight should fight it tooth and nail.  Any nutrition professionals who don't want ADA sanction should be doubly alarmed.  The committee hearing this bill convenes on Feb 6th at 1:30.