The American Dietetic Association (ADA) is the United States' largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, with nearly 67,000 members. Approximately 75 % of ADA's members are registered dietitians and about 4 % are dietetic technicians, registered. The remainder of ADA's members include researchers, educators, students, clinical and community dietetics professionals, consultants and food service managers.

ADA was founded in 1917 in Cleveland, Ohio, by a group of women led by Lenna F. Cooper and ADA's first president, Lulu C. Graves, who were dedicated to helping the government conserve food and improve public health during World War I. It is now headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

ADA's mission is "leading the future of dietetics". Its vision is that ADA members are the most valued source of food and nutrition services.

Registered Dietitian (RD)

Requirements include the following items:

• Minimum Bachelor's degree with coursework approved by ADA's accreditation on dietitics education. This coursework included food science, nutrition, computer science, biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry, sociology, business management, and physiology.
• Completion of an accredited, supervised, and apprenticed program at a health care facility, community agency, or food service organization.
• Pass a Commission on Dietetic Registration-administered national examination.
• Maintain registration by completing continuing professional educational requirements.

Approximately 75 percent of all ADA members are RD's. An additional 4 percent of ADA membership are Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR). About half of the ADA membership hold advanced academic degrees (Master's or Doctorate).

Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR)

DTRs work with RDs and undergo similar training though the education requirement is a minimum of an Associate's degree.

ADA's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education as the accrediting agency for education programs that prepare dietetics professionals. CADE accredits and approves more than 600 undergraduate and graduate didactic, dietetic technician and supervised practice programs.

The American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF) was established in 1966 as a 501(C)(3) public charity. Its mission is to fund the future of the dietetics profession through research and education. The Foundation's vision is to be a leader in promoting and achieving healthy weight for children, helping to reduce the growing prevalence of childhood obesity. ADAF achieves its goals by providing support for research, education and public awareness programs. For the 2006-2007 academic year, ADAF has invested in the future of the dietetics profession by awarding approximately $270,000 for more than 200 graduate, undergraduate and continuing education scholarships.

ADA publishes position papers on public health regarding pediatric (children's) health, food technology, food safety, geriatrics (elderly) health, health-care reform, obesity and the full range of food and nutrition topics. The association also sponsors National Nutrition Month in March in the U.S. To help better communications with the US government, ADA has offices in Washington, DC.

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA) is a monthly peer-reviewed publication involved in the dietetics field, with original research, critical reviews, and reports on dietetics and human nutrition.