The Kazakh Academy of Nutrition (KAN) was founded based on the Order of Ministry of Health of USSR on 6 December 1973 as the Kazakh Branch of the Institute of Nutrition of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the former USSR (AMS). Since 1978 KAN has been working successfully as WHO's Collaborating Center on Nutrition. KAN is Associate Institute of UN University on Nutrition issues since 1995, and Associated Member of International Union of Nutritional Science since 1996.

In 1988 as a result of increase of KAN's work and expansion of activity the Kazakh Branch of the Institute of Nutrition of AMS was reorganized into the Institute of Regional Problems of Nutrition of AMS, then in 1991 - into the Scientific Centre of Regional Problems of Nutrition of AMS. In 1993 after break-up of USSR the Center became under the jurisdiction of Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, then - the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan; since August 31, 2000 the Centre functionates as Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, which combines three main divisions: Institute of Nutrition, Institute of International Programs and Center of Food Production Programs.

Since 1979 KAN was defined as the WHO Collaborating Center on Nutrition (there are 21 centres in the world), since 1995 - as Associated Instutute of UN University, since 1996 "member of International Union of Nutrition Science", which is presented by 68 countries.

Kazakh Academy of Nutrition is the base institution of UNICEF for Central Asia countries, Rebublican Council on nutrition at Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Academy of Preventive Medicine, Kazakh Fund of Children's Nutriton, Expert Council on Biologically Active Additives of MoH of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Now the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition perfomes the regional role in the realization of nutrition problems of current importance in Kazakstan and republics of Central Asia.