ADA Working Guidelines For Industry Projects

(Updated March 26, 2004)

The American Dietetic Association welcomes industry relationships that help the Association fulfill its mission and vision in the following ways:

• Delivering ADA-approved nutrition messages to a wider consumer audience than ADA could reach using its own resources.
• Providing ADA-approved educational tools and materials to ADA members that are useful to members in their professional work with the public.
• Influencing industry nutrition education messages and communications programs to make them consistent with sound science and Association positions and philosophies.

In such cases, ADA may consider granting a restricted license to an industry partner to make use of the ADA name and logo to show ADA’s support of specific ADA pre-approved messages or materials.

ADA formal agreements with industry and ADA procedures are designed to prevent any undue industry influence particularly where there is a possibility that industry self-interest might tend to conflict with sound science or ADA positions, policies and philosophies.

ADA always shows the source of financial support on materials that have been partially or wholly funded by an industry source. ADA requires that the industry supporter be clearly identified on all such materials bearing the ADA name.

In its relations with industry, the Association is mindful of the need to avoid even a perception of conflict of interest and to act at all times in ways that will only enhance the credibility and professional recognition of the Association and its members. The continuing value of ADA’s name depends on its reputation for integrity, which has been earned by generations of ADA members over the course of many decades. ADA will authorize no commercial use of the name and logo that would diminish that value or damage that reputation.

Typical Products or Services of Industry Projects

• Online nutrition education tools.
• Printed consumer nutrition education pieces.
• Consumer nutrition surveys.
• Member surveys.
• On package nutrition messages.
• Nutrition Fact Sheets.
• Nutrition information campaign participation.
• Nutrition awareness event participation.

General Requirements for Acceptance of Industry Projects

• Fit with ADA strategic goals.
• Scientific accuracy.
• Conformance with ADA positions, policies and philosophies.
• ADA editorial control of all content in materials bearing the ADA name.
• Clear separation of ADA messages and content from brand information or promotion.
• No endorsement of any particular brand or company product.
• The inclusion of relevant facts and important information where their omission would present an unbalanced view of a controversial issue in which the sponsor has a stake.
• Full funding by the sponsor of all direct and indirect costs associated with the project.
• Payment of an appropriate licensing fee for the use of the ADA name and logo.

As a rule, ADA does not permit the free use of ADA content in publications or web sites where the effect of the ADA content and name is to help the publication or web site increase circulation or sell advertising or subscriptions.

ADA strives to communicate healthful eating messages to the public that emphasize the total diet or overall pattern of food eaten, rather than any one food or meal. If consumed in moderation with appropriate portion size and combined with regular physical activity, all foods can fit into a healthful diet.