Best practices in school food and nutrition units of public schools of Bayeux, PB, Brazil/ Avaliacao das boas praticas em unidades de alimentacao e nutricao de escolas publicas do municipio de Bayeux, PB, Brasil

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 2267 - 2284
• Main Authors: Lopes, Ana Carolina de Carvalho, Pinto, Helen Ramalho Farias, Costa, Deborah Camila Ismael de Oliveira, Mascarenhas, Robson de Jesus, Aquino, Jailane de Souza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva - ABRASCO 01-07-2015
• Subjects: Brasil
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232015207.15162014

The occurrence of foodborne illness outbreaks is increasing in schools, and due to the number of children who consume school meals as the only daily meal, this factor becomes even more worrisome. In this sense, the aim of this study was to evaluate the hygienic-health aspects of Food and Nutrition Units (SFNU) of public schools of Bayeux / PB in relation to the adoption of best practices in school food and nutrition. Data were collected through SFNU checklist during visits to units in 29 schools. The health risk of units evaluated was from regular to very high regarding structure and facilities, hygiene of food handlers, environment and food preparation. It was found that 10.3% of handlers used clean and adequate uniforms, and environment and equipment showed poor conservation status in 75.9% and 89.7% of Units, respectively; control of urban pests and vectors was not effective and cleaning of fresh produce was incorrectly conducted in 51.7% of SFNU of schools evaluated. It could be concluded that the production of meals in SFNU of schools evaluated does not meet the requirements established by the best practices in school food and nutrition.