# Insurance for nutrition consultants and nutritionists in Germany

> You advise clients on food and health in Germany as a nutrition consultant or nutritionist, perhaps with a qualification from the UK, the US or Australia. In Germany the title Ernährungsberater is not protected, while Diätassistent (dietitian) is, under section 1 of the Dietitians Act. Treating illness is a different matter: without a medical licence, that requires a permit under the Alternative Practitioners Act. A meal plan that misses an allergy or clashes with medication can lead to claims. Here is which insurance you need and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-nutrition-consultant.php  
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Am I covered when I advise clients with diabetes or allergies?

That depends on what you are allowed to do and what the policy says. Advice on healthy eating is normally covered. Treating illness counts as Heilkunde under section 1 HeilprG and needs a permit; without one, insurers usually will not pay. With clients who are ill, work on a doctor's referral or in agreement with their doctor, and have your activities described precisely in the policy.

## At a glance

- **Job title:** Diätassistent needs a permit under section 1 DiätAssG; Ernährungsberater is not a protected title
- **Legal limit:** Diagnosing, treating or relieving illness is Heilkunde and, for anyone who is not a doctor, needs a permit under section 1 HeilprG
- **Compulsory:** No statutory compulsory insurance; health insurers, partner practices and corporate clients often ask for proof of cover
- **Basic cover from:** around 90 euros a year for professional liability for a self-employed nutrition consultant, according to a published tariff example
- **Often forgotten:** Cooking classes and groups: injuries in the kitchen, not just advice errors

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Meal plan errors:** A missed allergy or intolerance causes a reaction, and the client claims treatment costs and damages for pain and suffering.
- **Interactions:** Supplements or fasting programmes can clash with medication such as blood thinners.
- **Crossing into medicine:** Treating illness without a permit puts your cover at risk.
- **Cooking classes:** A participant cuts or burns themselves or slips in the class kitchen.
- **Health data:** Diagnoses, weight and blood results are specially protected data. A breach is expensive.
- **Marketing claims:** Promises of weight loss or cures can lead to formal warnings from competitors.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 3, Fire and water 2, Theft 1, Cyber 3, Downtime 3, Health 2

## The insurance you need

- **Professional indemnity** (Essential): Pays for injury and financial loss arising from your advice, including classes and online sessions, and defends you against unfounded claims. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Strongly advised): For data breaches involving health data, hacked booking calendars and video platforms. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Strongly advised): For fee disputes, disputes with partners and formal warnings about your marketing. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Occupational disability** (Strongly advised): As a self-employed consultant you protect your own income. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php
- **Business contents** (Depends on the business): If you have your own practice room or class kitchen. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php

## What it costs: example prices

Professional liability for nutrition consultants is among the cheaper policies. Classes, staff, higher sums and work with patients on referral push the premium up.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional indemnity | Self-employed, 5 million euros cover, 250 euros excess | from around 90 euros a year (7.48 euros a month) |
| Professional indemnity | With cooking classes and groups, no excess | around 150 to 300 euros a year |
| Cyber insurance | Sole practice with online coaching, 100,000 euros | around 200 to 450 euros a year |
| Business legal expenses | Sole trader with contract legal cover | around 250 to 450 euros a year |
| Occupational disability | Age 35, 1,500 euros monthly benefit to 67 | around 700 to 1,400 euros a year |

For comparison: Professional liability costs about as much a year as a single in-depth first consultation.

_The first example comes from a published tariff example (December 2024); the other figures are guide values from our quoting experience, as of October 2026, excluding German insurance premium tax. We obtain the exact quote for you._

- [transparent-beraten.de: Berufshaftpflicht für Ernährungsberater](https://www.transparent-beraten.de/berufshaftpflichtversicherung/berufsgruppen/ernaehrungsberater/)
- [Section 1 DiätAssG: permit for the title](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/di_tassg_1994/__1.html)
- [Section 1 Heilpraktikergesetz](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/heilprg/__1.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Start** (Nutrition coaching for healthy clients, one to one and online): Professional indemnity, Cyber insurance. Together: around 290 to 700 euros a year
- **Practice** (Own premises, classes and cooperation with doctors): Professional indemnity, Cyber insurance, Business legal expenses, Business contents. Together: around 800 to 1,600 euros a year
- **Complete** (Practice with class kitchen and income protection): Professional indemnity, Cyber insurance, Business legal expenses, Business contents, Occupational disability. Together: around 1,500 to 3,000 euros a year

## The worst day in a nutrition practice

Six things that really happen to nutrition consultants and nutritionists. Here they all hit on a single Tuesday. Tap through the day and see who pays.

- 09:00: A client reacts to a recipe in your plan, although the nut allergy was on the intake form. (€4,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 11:00: A client followed your fasting advice while on blood thinners and ends up in hospital. (€8,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 13:30: Your online calendar is hacked and health data of 200 clients is exposed. (€6,000, Paid by: Cyber insurance)
- 15:00: A competitor sends a formal warning about your weight loss promise. (€2,500, Paid by: Business legal expenses)
- 17:30: In the cooking class a participant cuts deep into their hand. (€3,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 21:00: The induction hob in the class kitchen starts a fire. (€9,000, Paid by: Business contents)

**Damage so far:** €32,500

## Practical tips from your broker

- Tell the insurer everything you offer: one to one sessions, groups, cooking classes, online courses and corporate work.
- Work with clients who are ill only on a doctor's referral or in agreement with their doctor, and keep a written record.
- Ask about allergies, medication and conditions in writing and have the form signed.
- Advertise without promises of cures; claims about weight loss need evidence.
- Store health data only in software suited to it, with two-factor log-in.
- Check run-off cover, as claims can arrive after the coaching has ended.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We check the activity wording:** As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares several insurers and makes sure classes, online coaching and referral work are included.
- **We know claims handling:** In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves, and we know how much good records matter.
- **German wording explained in English:** We walk you through German policy terms in plain English before you sign.
- **Brokering since 1989:** Our advice costs you nothing, as the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### Is professional liability compulsory for nutrition consultants in Germany?

Not by law. Without it you are personally liable, though, and many partners and corporate clients ask for proof of cover.

### What does it cost?

A published tariff example is 7.48 euros a month for 5 million euros cover with a 250 euro excess. With classes and no excess, expect around 150 to 300 euros a year.

### May I advise clients who are ill?

Diagnosing, treating or relieving illness is Heilkunde under section 1 HeilprG and needs a permit unless you are a doctor. In practice, nutrition consultants work with ill clients on a doctor's referral.

### Can I call myself a dietitian?

The German title Diätassistent needs a permit under section 1 DiätAssG. That applies whatever country you trained in. Ernährungsberater, by contrast, is not protected.

### Am I covered when I coach clients abroad online?

Many policies apply worldwide except the USA and Canada. If you have clients abroad, have the territorial scope confirmed.

### Do I need cyber insurance?

If you store health data digitally, yes. Professional liability pays for advice errors, not for the cost of a data breach.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-nutrition-consultant.php#anfrage

---

Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.