Portfolio of services of endocrinology and nutrition

Dear Editor,

In relation to the special article published in your journal entitled “Portfolio of services of endocrinology and nutrition” (Almudena Vicente Delgado, Pilar Gómez Enterría, and Francisco Tinahones Madueño, on behalf of the Care Committee of the Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (CASEEN)),¹ please find enclosed the following considerations regarding human resources and, specifically, food scientists:

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  Public hospitals in Andalusia have had Units of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, including food scientist positions, since 1998.

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  Such positions (currently 9: Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, Torrecárdenas, Virgen de las Nieves, Reina Sofía, Virgen del Rocío, Virgen Macarena, Puerta del Mar, Puerto Real, and Carlos Haya) have always been covered by 8 veterinary surgeons and one pharmacist, and the Andalusian region and Andalusian Health Service (SAS) have pioneered the enlisting of these professionals.

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  In 2008, a decree of the Department of Health of the Andalusian government² suppressed the category of food scientist and created the new category of senior technician in nutrition and food control. This decree listed the duties of the category and the requirements needed to occupy the position: veterinary surgeon or pharmacist.

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  We know of 5 veterinary colleagues who have been working for 5 years in public hospitals within the Extremadura Health Authority (SES) (Mérida, Llerena, Don Benito, Cáceres, and Complejo Hospitalario de Badajoz), and of 2 other colleagues (veterinary surgeons) who have been directly recruited by and are working for public health authorities in Aragon (Hospital Miguel Servet) and La Rioja (Hospital San Pedro).

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  We have no doubt that there may be professionals with other health or non-health-related qualifications who work in public hospitals (although they are not directly hired by the administration but by external companies, such as students working on research projects) and who have at some time discharged the duties reserved for food scientists: diet code, training of food handlers, and even design of the self-control system.

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  We do not understand the reason for including food technologists, but not other professionals such as food scientists, as they cannot currently work in Andalusia,² they are not working in Extremadura, Aragón, or La Rioja and, in addition, food technologists, although considered healthcare professionals with the same rights as psychologists, chemists, biologists, or biochemists, cannot take charge of food safety at a hospital because this role is not provided for in the Act on Organization of Healthcare Professions (article 6),³ and cannot take charge of food safety control in any Spanish autonomous region or in any European Union country.

Based on the foregoing, and on the development of this position in Andalusia and subsequently in Extremadura, although development in other autonomous regions has unfortunately been poor or nil, we ask you to revise the terms on page 131 of your article relating to degree qualification, and to describe the duties currently discharged by food scientists in Andalusia in accordance with the above-mentioned decree² so as to both reflect the currently applicable regulations in Andalusia and to serve as a model (as has occurred in Extremadura, Aragon and La Rioja) for the development of this position in the rest of Spain.

We remain at your disposal for any clarification or additional information you may require, congratulate you on the contribution you have made with this new portfolio of services, and thank you for including food scientists among human resources.