| Sumario: | With the shift to a greater focus on nutrition in Australian food production, the role of dietitians and nutritionists employed in this sector, and their educational preparation, deserve attention. This paper presents the findings of qualitative research aimed at describing the current work practices and educational needs of dietitians employed within the food industry. Open-ended questions were asked of twelve dietitians including those employed by Australia's major food companies. The outcomes of this research were that: (a) industry-based dietitians had a population perspective to nutrition practice and a keen sense of career development; (b) descriptions of work practices indicated a distinctive career structure for dietitians in this area, which can be supported with appropriate continuing education; and (c) entry level practitioners would benefit from industry placements in their qualifying program. The educational implications of this study are that with increasing industry experience, short courses in management and communications would be of benefit, followed by higher qualifications in management and research. The implications for the profession include a review of competency standards and requirements for accredited programs and more generally, the development of a broad framework for recognising specialist practice in a range of workplace contexts.
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