Retail RDs’ Impact on Public Health

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Supermarket dietitians are growing in popularity and influencing consumer diets. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducted a survey that revealed approximately 85% of supermarkets have added a corporate dietitian to their staff, while 30% have RDs working in the stores (Webb, 2015). One supermarket chain with over 230 stores, Hy-Vee, has RDs working is 94% of their stores, with an aim of 100% in the near future (Webb, 2015). Retail RDs are able to influence millions of shoppers across the country. This is creating a huge opportunity to meet clients at the root of their health habits.

Retail RDs offer many services in supermarkets including grocery store tours, addressing questions, teaching classes, counseling, food sampling, cooking demonstrations, helping consumers pick out healthier food choices, discussing how to make healthy food affordable, specializing menus and shopping lists, and working with other health professionals as well (Webb, 2015). On top of the community health benefits resulting from a RD on staff, stores are also aware of the improvements in store loyalty (Webb, 2015). According to Barabara Ruhs, a former supermarket RD, the 1000 supermarket dietitians in the US have a chance to bridge the gap in many areas of public health-- connecting the education to the change (Webb, 2015).

The registered dietitians that are hired for this position must have a well-rounded background in dietetics and education in order to effectively influence the community (Webb, 2015). Many nutrition conferences and meetings are encouraged including Oldways Supermarket Dietitian Symposium, Produce for Better Health Foundation, Shopping for Health, FMI Connect, and RDBA (Webb, 2015). Continual attendance allows dietitians to grow in knowledge and share this knowledge with all other professionals in the business to work together. The impact of retail RDs continues to expand with more and more positions opening up in supermarkets, with a focus on prevention and leading to the positive changes in overall public health (Webb, 2015).

-KC

Webb, D. (2015, March). Retail RDs' impact on public health. Today’s Dietitian. (17)3, 40.


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