This law provides for the licensure of “Medical Nutrition Therapists” or “MNT”, and restricts the providing of nutrition care to only MTN’s.
While the law is highly restrictive, it does contain some exemptions:
§ 38-1812 states that the law does not prevent..:
(5) Persons performing “general nutrition services” incidental to the practice of the profession insofar as it does not exceed the scope of their education and training;
(6) Persons who market or distribute food, food materials, or dietary supplements, including persons employed in health food stores, or persons engaged in the advising of the use of those products, or the preparation of those products, or the counseling of individuals or groups in the selection of products to meet general nutrition needs;
(7) Persons conducting classes or disseminating information related to general nutrition services;
(9) Persons who provide information and instructions regarding food intake or exercise as a part of a weight control program.
The law further defines “general nutrition services” as:
Section 38-1807: General nutrition services includes, but is not limited to:
(1) Identifying the nutritional needs of individuals and groups in relation to normal nutritional requirements; and
(2) Planning, implementing, and evaluating nutrition education programs for individuals and groups in the selection of food to meet normal nutritional needs throughout the life cycle.
While the law states that you may provide for individuals, extreme caution should be taken that you are not diagnosing, treating, or in any away addressing a specific medical or nutrition condition. Everything should be based on “normal nutritional needs” that promotes a healthy lifestyle.
Source: Nebraska Revised Statute 38-1812 and 172 NAC 61