Trust in Professional Integrity: The story of Dietitians for Professional Integrity

In 2012/13, a group popped up on Facebook and Twitter called Dietitians for professional integrity (DFPI). This is an American group of dietitians, who have opened themselves up internationally to document and discuss the real conflict of interest that exist between food corporations and nutrition/health advocacy organisations. At its core, DFPI is concerned about the credibility and sustainability of the profession of dietetics.

The formation of DFPI came on the back of the report “And now a word from our sponsors: are Americas nutrition professionals in the pocket of Big Food?” The report, released early in 2013, was specific to the relationship between food industry and the American dietitians’ professional association – the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). At the time of the public report, the AND was called the American Dietetics Association (ADA).

When I first heard about DFPI, it seemed a bit ridiculous there would need to be a separate group with its principle platform being “professional integrity”. I mean, who wouldn’t be for professional integrity? Did this mean those who didn’t support the group had less integrity?

As I have looked further into what professional integrity means and what it looks like, there is good reason for the concerns tabled by DFPI; there is certainly more than enough compelling evidence to support their call to action.

The premise for DFPIs call to action is the ANDs protracted dependence on corporate money; despite strong evidence the influence corporate money has on the ability to achieve “health for all”.

My conclusion of what DFPI stand for is this:

“Accepting corporate money means the AND is no longer in the business of health, they are in the business of making money.”

I do not think DFPI believe members of, and those who work within the AND have no integrity (see DFPI’s FAQ). The use of the term “professional integrity” by DFPI is to encourage the AND to re-think its collective “professional integrity” in the context of the evidence on the influence of corporate monies on [any] organisation/s.

DFPI know professional integrity is worth fighting for. If dietitians want to be taken seriously in the world, subscribing and truly acting to professional integrity is expected. Not just expected but, rightly, assumed of a profession and the professional organisation that represents them. As is current, the AND profess to a) represent every dietitian across America, and b) be the trusted “go to” independent advocacy organisation operating in a civil society, these requests by DFPI are not only reasonable, but a minimum standard. If a) and b) is no longer what the AND is about, then this should be stated and the structure and function changed accordingly. We must not ignore the real-life evidence documented from the experience of our medical colleagues.[1]^[2]
[3]

Meanwhile, in Australia, the formation of DFPI was exciting, real, and tangible. Brave too. Finally there was a simple and open dialogue that was inclusive and fast moving. Thanks social media! DFPI even caught the eye of the Australian My Health Career job search group ran a feature on DFPI opening with:

While My Health Career usually focuses on stories about health professions in Australia, we couldn’t help but raise awareness about a controversial issue that is causing a bit of a stir in the US at the moment. From what we hear, things similar to this happen to a much lesser extent in Australia. 04-05-2013

I note the soft comparison with Australia; the suggestion DFPI may not be needed here. Sure, there are differences between Australian dietitians and their own professional association. However, it is in fact because of these differences there is a strong case for an Australian arm of DFPI…..but that, my friends, is another story.

Trust in Professional Integrity

Monday, March 3, 2014

The story of Dietitians for Professional Integrity

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