The Dietitians Association of Australia’s Problematic Industry Ties

Among the report’s findings:

• “Corporate sponsors of DAA include Meat and Livestock Australia, Nestlé, Unilever, Dairy Australia, and the Egg Nutrition Council;

• Meat and Livestock Australia is a sponsor of DAA’s “Australia Healthy Weight Week”;

• Nestlé Nutrition Institute funds the DAA “Emerging Researcher Award”;

• McDonald’s and the Australian Heart Foundation promoted free “Deli Choices Wraps” at DAA’s annual meeting;

• DAA official spokespeople include the director of communications and public affairs at Kellogg’s and the nutrition manager for PepsiCo Australia;

• DAA spokesperson Alan Barclay published disputed data claiming lower sugar consumption during rising obesity rates (“the Australian Paradox”) and was paid by Coca-Cola to present his research;

• DAA stripped a dietitian of her earned credential allegedly for speaking out against these sorts of conflicts of interest.”