Ms. Godfrey questions the capacity of "self-trained" healers to advance the aims of sound nutrition. I am not certain why, as the source of practitioners’ training was not raised in my letter. In any event, neither I nor any of my colleagues are "self-trained."

Ms. Godfrey also writes that she had "discovered" – through an Internet search – that I am a practitioner of ayurvedic medicine. This is correct, and hardly necessitates an Internet search to "discover" as I am proudly and publicly engaged in the practice and teaching of that venerable healing art.

Ms. Godfrey speculates that opponents of the pending legislation to restrict the practice of nutrition may be motivated by economic self-interest, i.e., the preservation of their livelihoods. Curiously, Ms. Godfrey takes no notice of the motivations of her co-partisans. Ms. Godfrey, a registered dietician, would have us believe that such self-interest is ascribable only to her opponents, not her supporters who must be motivated purely by concern for the public health.

I question the accuracy of such perceptions. The American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest association of nutrition professionals with some 67,000 members. They are the leading source of information for government, commerce and individuals seeking nutritional information.

The ADA is no science-driven, motiveless observer, as it also happens to be the recipient of over $300 million annually from the likes of food mega-corporations like PepsiCo, Coca Cola, Kraft Foods and ConAgra. These are the people who bring us Oreos, Slim Jims, Frito-Lay, Velveeta, Spam and Chef Boyardee. Yum.

With nutrition professionals like these, do we really need Burger King?