(NaturalNews) The American Dietetic Association (ADA), which recently renamed itself the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), is struggling to maintain relevancy as Americans increasingly choose to get their nutrition information from alternative health sources. But the AND is not going down without a fight, as the group has now stooped so low as to lure its members to snitch on unlicensed nutritionists in exchange for prizes.

Several whistleblowers within the ranks of the AND recently released shocking internal documents that highlight the group's seditious tactics for basically driving its competition out of business, as well as establishing a nationwide monopoly on nutrition. One of these tactics involves having registered dietitians (RDs) and dietetic technicians, registered (DTRs) spy on their competition in order to file complaints against them via state dietetic boards. (http://www.forbes.com)

At the state level, some dietetic associations, which operate under the banner of the AND, are even organizing contests that offer prizes and other incentives to RDs and DTRs that rat out unlicensed nutritionists. In Michigan; for instance, a brochure for the official Michigan Dietetic Association (MDA) conference in 2006 explains that attendees who bring in the most completed "Documentation of Harm" forms will be eligible to win free registration. (www.anh-usa.org)

A Documentation of Harm form is basically a complaint form that is used to target unlicensed nutritionists on the basis that these unlicensed nutritionists harmed patients by giving them unconventional dietary or medical advice. Based on the ill intent of the form and its reporting process, MDA conference attendees were essentially enticed to engage in a witch hunt against nutritionists operating outside the fold in exchange for rewards.

You can view a copy of the Documentation of Harm form here: http://www.anh-usa.org

Many state dietetic boards use the Documentation of Harm complaint form as an excuse to try to eliminate the free speech rights of anyone offering nutrition advice without a license. This, of course, is exactly what happened recently to Steve Cooksey, a North Carolina blogger who became the target of the North Carolina Board of Dietetics / Nutrition (NCBDN) for simply helping people cure their diabetes and regain health. (http://www.naturalnews.com)

The AND is currently working towards implementing NCBDN-type witch hunts in all 50 states, but the group will first have to modify many states' laws concerning freedom of health speech. And the group is in the process of doing precisely that, according to the leaked AND documents that explain how RDs and DTRs can effectively work at the state level to establish nutrition monopolies that stamp out all competition. (http://www.reallyeatright.org)

Sources for this article include:

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/z036533_ADA_dietetics_spies.html