This law certifies dietitians only, protecting certain titles, but does not restrict the practice of nutrition by others. The law states:
Sec. 20-206p. Use of title.
“No person who is not certified by the Department of Public Health as a dietitian-nutritionist shall represent himself as being so certified or use in connection with his name the term “Connecticut Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist”, “Connecticut Certified Dietitian”, “Connecticut Certified Nutritionist”, or the letters “C.D.-N.”, “C.D.”, “C.N.” or any other letters, words or insignia indicating or implying that he is a certified dietitian-nutritionist in this state. Any person who violates the provisions of this section or who obtains or attempts to obtain certification as a dietitian-nutritionist by any willful misrepresentation or any fraudulent representation shall be guilty of a class D felony. Failure to renew a certificate in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for the purposes of this section.”
Further, the law places an exemption for others to practice nutrition:
Sec. 20-206t. Construction of chapter.
Nothing in this law “shall be construed as prohibiting the activities of:
(1) A person who does not hold himself out to be a Connecticut certified dietitian-nutritionist, Connecticut certified dietitian or Connecticut certified nutritionist from engaging in dietetics or nutrition practice;
(2) a person who does not hold himself out to be a Connecticut certified dietitian or Connecticut certified nutritionist from marketing or distributing food, food products or dietary supplements, from engaging in the explanation of the use, benefits or preparation of such products, from furnishing nutrition information related to any such products, or from the dissemination of information or literature related to any such products;
(3) a person who does not hold himself out to be a Connecticut certified dietitian or Connecticut certified nutritionist from providing weight control services;