June 2025 The Sports Nutrition Association responds to regulatory scrutiny of VAST and Clean Health Group, reinforcing public protection measures established years ahead of the current crisis

Brisbane, Australia – June 18, 2025 – An Australian government investigation into nutrition industry practices, sparked by A Current Affair’s exposé of VAST and the Clean Health Group, has validated the Sports Nutrition Association’s long-standing warnings about professional standards and public protection in the nutrition sector.

The investigation validates concerns SNA raised years ago about misconceptions surrounding qualifications in nutrition, particularly regarding who can legitimately practice as a nutritionist. SNA understands that the organisations the subject of the Australian investigation and enforcement orders intend to contest these, but presently this is the current precedence.

SNA members remain unaffected by the investigation as the association has consistently maintained strict adherence to ANZSCO and now OSCA and NOL professional standards, specifically adhering to Skill Level 1 requirements, well ahead of current regulatory requirements.

Industry-Wide Damage Expected for Legitimate Practitioners

When some providers fail to maintain proper standards, qualified professionals inevitably suffer collateral damage. The association anticipates several consequences for legitimate practitioners:

• Reduced client acquisition and longer trust-building processes – fewer bookings as public becomes wary, extended sales cycles for credential verification, and therapeutic relationships taking longer to establish
• Clients seeking cheaper unqualified alternatives, thinking “they’re all the same anyway” when the industry gets painted with the same brush
• Increased regulatory and compliance burden – risk of excessive regulation plus higher admin costs for verification processes that legitimate practitioners must absorb
• Professional focus shift from service delivery to legitimacy defence – spending more time proving credentials and defending the profession instead of focusing on client health outcomes
• Higher professional insurance premiums and greater regulatory scrutiny across the industry
• Increased public skepticism toward nutrition professionals generally

These developments demonstrate exactly why maintaining rigorous professional standards protects not just individual practitioners, but the entire profession’s credibility.

Clear Standards and Public Protection

The situation reinforces the fundamental principle that nutrition services must only be provided by appropriately qualified and registered professionals operating within their scope of practice.

“There ARE consequences to calling yourself a ‘Nutritionist’, and not everyone can call themselves one without repercussions,” said Alex Thomas, President of the Sports Nutrition Association. “This investigation underscores exactly why our rigorous educational and professional standards exist.”

The investigation underscores a critical gap in public protection. While there are currently no federally enforced protections around either the title Nutritionist or Dietitian, there are still protective mechanisms in place that draw boundaries around the use of these titles such as second and third order consequences for those not complying with:

• OSCA standards (Skill Level 1 – bachelor’s degree or higher) and
• appropriate registration/insurance requirements.

Health commissioners can intervene, and practitioners face potential charges, fines, and claims of misleading conduct under consumer law. This regulatory complexity – where anyone can technically use the title but face serious consequences for doing so inappropriately – is precisely why SNA pursued trademark protection and certification marks for ‘Accredited Sports Nutritionist.’ This creates a clear, protected professional designation that eliminates ambiguity for both practitioners and the public. Until comprehensive legislative reform provides direct title protection, these certification marks serve as a critical safeguard, ensuring those using our protected titles meet all first, second, and third order requirements of professional practice.

SNA maintains comprehensive public protection measures through its Sports Nutritionist Registry, which provides transparency about qualified practitioners and includes disciplinary records to help the public make informed decisions about nutrition services.

The Importance of Maintaining These Foundational Industry Standards

The association’s proactive stance on professional standards, established well before the current investigation, positions SNA as a trusted voice during industry turbulence. The organization has been advocating for these standards for years, anticipating exactly this type of regulatory scrutiny.

SNA members can continue serving the public with confidence, knowing they represent the gold standard in nutrition qualifications and ethical practice. The association will continue monitoring developments and is available to provide expert commentary on industry standards and public protection measures.

About the Sports Nutrition Association

The Sports Nutrition Association is Australia and New Zealand’s leading professional body for sports nutrition practitioners, and the only professional body globally that has established a comprehensive standard and scope of practice in sports nutrition that is recognised by insurers and underwriters worldwide. SNA maintains rigorous educational and professional standards that protect public trust while supporting qualified practitioners. Established to elevate industry standards, SNA developed comprehensive public registries and transparency measures to address identified gaps in industry accountability and help prevent professional misconduct.