American Association of Nutritional Consultants
The American Association of Nutritional Consultants is an organisation based in Warsaw, Indiana for nutritional and dietary consultants.
The association runs no checks on the qualifications of its certified members. Science writer Ben Goldacre subscribed his deceased cat Henrietta, purchasing "certified professional membership" on Hettie's behalf for $60, and Australian nutritionist Rosemary Stanton's late Old English Sheepdog. In 1983, nutrition scientist Victor Herbert registered a poodle and a cat; despite the wide publicity given to this fact, Herbert was able to register another dog as a member the next year. Another person registered the pet hamster of his daughter and another person was accepted after providing only a certificate from a nutrition diploma mill.
As a result, this organisation has been criticised by Quackwatch for selling membership certificates to unqualified individuals.
