Germany: dietitians, jobs and the nutrition industry

Regulator / credentialing body

State-regulated training under the Dietary Assistants Act (DiätAssG)

Professional title

Diätassistent/in; Oecotrophologe/in

Title protection

Yes - 'Diätassistent' is a protected professional title

Professional body

Verband der Diätassistenten (VDD)

Supplement regulation

BVL notification and BfR risk assessment of food supplements

Region

Europe

How the profession is regulated

Germany's protected dietetic title is Diätassistentin / Diätassistent, regulated by the federal Dietary Assistants Act (Diätassistentengesetz, DiätAssG) of 1994. Training traditionally takes three years at a vocational school attached to hospitals, combining theory with practical placements, and ends with a state examination. Only people who hold the state licence may use the title. The Verband der Diätassistenten (VDD) is the professional association for dietitians in Germany.

Alongside Diätassistenten, two university-trained groups provide nutrition advice: Oecotrophologists (home economics and nutrition science graduates) and nutrition scientists (Ernährungswissenschaftler), represented by associations such as the VDOE and BDEM. Their titles are academic rather than protected professional titles. "Ernährungsberater" (nutrition adviser) is not protected, so anyone may use it. Germany is moving towards university-level education for dietitians, in line with European standards set out by EFAD, through degree programmes in dietetics.

Health insurers in Germany reimburse nutrition counselling and therapy under certain conditions, and many accept advice from Diätassistenten, Oecotrophologists and nutrition scientists who hold recognised certificates, such as those issued by the German Nutrition Society (DGE) or professional associations.

The workforce

The VDD describes itself as Germany's only professional association specifically for Diätassistenten; we will add a verified workforce figure here when we have read one on an official page. Dietitians work in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, which are a large German employer, nursing homes, outpatient practices, health insurers' prevention programmes, and the food and supplement industry.

Strengths of the German market

• Size. Europe's largest economy and most populous EU country, with a large supplement and functional food market.
• Drugstore retail. dm-drogerie markt and Rossmann sell supplements at scale alongside pharmacies, giving brands broad reach.
• Strong brands. Orthomol, with its micronutrient combinations, Queisser Pharma's Doppelherz and Bayer's consumer health division are household names.
• Clinical nutrition leadership. Fresenius Kabi, headquartered in Bad Homburg, is a global leader in clinical and parenteral nutrition, and B. Braun is another major medical company.
• Major events. Fi Europe takes place at Messe Frankfurt from 17 to 19 November 2026^[1], and the 48th ESPEN Congress, Europe's leading clinical nutrition meeting, was held in Berlin in September 2026^[2].

Opportunities

For practitioners

An ageing population increases demand in geriatrics, rehabilitation and nursing homes. Diabetes, obesity and kidney disease drive outpatient demand, and health insurers fund prevention courses. University-educated dietitians are increasingly sought for advanced clinical roles, research and teaching as the profession academises. Industry roles in clinical nutrition and supplements are plentiful.

For companies

Germany is a demanding but rewarding market. Consumers value quality, sustainability and transparent labels. Drugstore private labels compete on price, so branded products must justify a premium with evidence and quality. Pharmacies remain important for higher-priced and practitioner-recommended products.

How food supplements are regulated

Germany implements the EU Food Supplements Directive through the Food Supplements Regulation (Nahrungsergänzungsmittelverordnung, NemV). Companies must notify each food supplement to the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) before first placing it on the market, with a label sample. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes recommended maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, which authorities use when assessing products. Health claims must be authorised under the EU Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation. Products that look like medicines because of their dose or claims can be classified as medicinal products by the authorities, which is a recurring issue in Germany.

Public health priorities

The German Nutrition Society (DGE) publishes food-based dietary guidelines and nutrient reference values for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. National policy includes the national reduction and innovation strategy for sugar, fat and salt in processed foods, the Nutri-Score front-of-pack label on a voluntary basis, school and day-care catering standards, and programmes against childhood obesity.

Practical notes

For internationally trained dietitians

Foreign qualifications are assessed by the competent authority in the federal state where you intend to work, under the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act. Applicants may need an adaptation period or aptitude test and must demonstrate German language skills, usually at B2 level or higher for health professions.

For companies entering Germany

Check ingredients and doses against BfR maximum levels and EU rules, use only authorised health claims, label in German, notify the BVL before launch, and decide early between drugstore, pharmacy and online channels. Fi Europe in Frankfurt is the key ingredients event for the German market^[1]; see the events calendar.

Suppliers, manufacturers and retailers in Germany

Notable companies headquartered in Germany across supplements, medical nutrition, ingredients and retail. This is an information list, not an endorsement; companies can claim and expand their profile through a supplement company membership.

Practices listed in Germany

31 dietitian and nutrition listings in Germany are live on our member directory, DietitiansWorldwide.com (snapshot 17 October 2026). Listings are shown as published by the directory and are not endorsements; practitioners can claim and update their own listing.

Ernährungsberatung Hochrhein Murg, GermanyView listing →Diät- & Ernährungstherapie Sonja Wetterich Oerlenbach, GermanyView listing →Med. Ernährungsberatung Serrano Kriftel, GermanyView listing →Diät- und Ernährungstherapie Kerstin Lemper GermanyView listing →

Search the directory List your practice

Events and trade shows

See every conference and trade show worldwide on the events calendar.

How Germany fits the global picture

Worldwide, 2.6 billion adults were living with overweight in 2024, and 940 million of them with obesity^[3]. Diabetes affects 589 million adults aged 20 to 79^[4]. The global dietary supplements market was valued at US$209.5 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach US$431.7 billion by 2033^[5]. Those three numbers frame demand for dietitians and nutrition products in every country on the Global Hub.

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