Objetivo.
Identificar los enfoques sobre la inocuidad y calidad del agua en los documentos que describen los programas de alimentación escolar en los países de América Latina y el Caribe (ALC).
...Métodos.
Estudio descriptivo, transversal y exploratorio de los documentos sobre alimentación escolar en los países y territorios de ALC. Se realizó el análisis documental y se determinaron a priori cuatro categorías: “agua para el consumo”, “agua para la higiene”, “agua para la preparación”, y “agricultura local/familiar” según el uso del agua en la alimentación escolar. Los documentos fueron buscados durante 2018-2019 en los sitios web oficiales de los países y territorios de ALC, la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y Agricultura y el Programa Mundial de Alimentos. Se obtuvieron las frecuencias absolutas y relativas de los datos cuantitativos y para los datos cualitativos se aplicó el análisis de contenido del tipo temático.
Resultados.
Se analizaron 114 documentos, de los cuales 29 eran elegibles. Los enfoques de las categorías “agua para el consumo”, “agua para la higiene” y “agua para la preparación” solo atribuían al agua la característica de ser potable. En la categoría “agricultura local/familiar” no se encontraron enfoques sobre el agua para el riego.
Conclusión.
Los documentos abordan el agua, pero no se centran en su inocuidad y calidad. Los gobiernos y autoridades locales deben revisar sus documentos y garantizar la unanimidad de los enfoques a partir del apoyo y diálogo intersectorial para alcanzar las metas de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible.
This study aimed to (i) compare the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices (KAP) and observed food safety practices of food truck (FT) food handlers, (ii) evaluate the ...microbiological quality of food and water samples collected from these vehicles, and (iii) establish a score classification for the KAP instrument according to the food contamination probability assessment. This study was conducted in three stages with 40 food truck food handlers conveniently sampled in the Federal District, Brazil, through structured interviews, application of an observational checklist for the assessment of handlers' practices and the collection of food and water samples for determination of microbiological quality. FTs that are likely to exhibit food contamination and are at a high risk of foodborne diseases if at least one of the following situations occur: (1) if a food handler scores ≤6 in the knowledge section; (2) if a food handler scores ≤5 in the attitudes section; or (3) if a food handler scores ≤6 in the self-reported practices section. On the other hand, FTs in which handlers score higher than the cutoff points in all the sections are unlikely to exhibit food contamination and are at a low risk of foodborne diseases. The findings of this study are the first step to understand food handlers' point of view and the initial diagnosis to guide educational strategies in the FT sector.
The present study aimed to verify the instrument's reliability and validity for assessing children and adolescents' risk perception, knowledge, and food safety practices in the school context. ...Moreover, it aimed to test the hypothesis that both application methods (paper and pencil (PAPI) and online) are valid. The instrument comprised three questionnaires and followed a strict protocol to combine online and PAPI models, resulting in five application forms. The sample consisted of 439 Brazilian students from 10 to 14 years old (y/o). The results related to reliability and validity indicated that the knowledge questionnaire presented adequate stability and discriminant validity coefficients. The self-reported practices questionnaire obtained acceptable coefficients of stability and internal consistency. Regarding risk perception data, it was observed that students attribute a low probability of Foodborne Diseases (FBD) outbreaks occurrence and low severity of possible symptoms. In addition, students demonstrated insufficient knowledge and inadequate practices on issues related to failures associated with the time and temperature of preparation, storage, and exposure of food, contamination of food, and consumption of unsafe food. In this context, the reproducibility and validity indices need to be interpreted and discussed correctly, and young people in food safety actions are a priority in facing FBD.
This study aimed to investigate food truck consumers' profile, choices, preferences, and food safety importance perception. We conducted structured interviews with a convenient sample of 133 food ...truck consumers in the Federal District, Brazil. Most of the participating consumers were married (52%) and female (56%), who had completed at least tertiary school (81%). The interviews revealed that most food truck consumers eat from food trucks once or twice a week (96%), usually near home (74%), and have an average per capita expenditure of approximately US $5 to US $9.99 (70%). Hamburgers and sandwiches are the most popular food among consumers (72%). Consumers indicated that taste (30%) was the most important reason to choose a food truck and that poor vehicle hygiene (30%) was the main point assigned for not opting for a food truck. Food hygiene and vendors' personal hygiene were considered important by consumers when eating from food trucks (78% and 80%, respectively). Considering all food truck consumers interviewed and the questions about food safety importance perception, the minimum score was 1 and the maximum was 2.9, with a mean score of 1.68 (SD = 0.46), indicating a high level of perceived importance. The instrument of food safety importance perception presented a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.73, indicating good internal consistency. No significant differences were observed in the food safety importance perception scores in gender (0.192), marital status (0.418), level of education (0.652) or food safety training (0.166). However, significant differences were found in the food safety importance perception scores for age (0.026) and the presence of children (0.001). The findings of this study indicate that there remains the need for consumers to comprehend their role in the food supply chain. Food safety and food handling practices are of public concern, and strategies are required to prevent foodborne diseases. Future public health interventions aiming to increase consumer knowledge and awareness of food safety should be emphasized.
This scoping review aimed to map the main evidence in the existing literature regarding consumer perceptions and beliefs regarding food safety in the context of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, ...and South Africa) countries. Articles were searched in the Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO databases. The last search was performed on November 2021. Only the studies conducted within BRICS countries were included. The synthesis aimed to group similarities in consumer beliefs and perceptions of food safety. After screening, 74 eligible articles were included in the study. Of the 74 studies analyzed, 49 (66.2%) were carried out in China, 14 (18.9%) in Brazil, 5 (6.8%) in India,4 (5.4%) in South Africa, and 2 (2.7%) in Russia. Thirty-three motivators of perceptions and beliefs regarding food safety were identified. Food safety motivators were grouped into three categories: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) cognitive aspects, and (3) other. In the "sociodemographic characteristics" category, the motivator with the highest number of corresponding results was education level (results = 22), followed by income (results = 22), both positive drivers for food safety perceptions. The "cognitive aspects" category comprised the majority of the identified motivators. Concern for food safety (results = 32) and risk perception (results = 30) were the motivators with the highest number of results among all categories and motivators. Finally, the main motivator in the "other" category was place of consumption/purchase (results = 8), focusing on consumers underestimating the risk of having a foodborne disease when eating away from home. China and Brazil are leading the way in studies on this topic. Consumers' perceptions are influenced by socioeconomic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, education level, income), cognitive aspects (e.g., knowledge, risk perception, food concerns, previous experience with food safety incidents) and other situational factors (e.g., price, place of purchase, traceability).
This study aimed to investigate whether job crafting, burnout, and work engagement predict food safety behaviors in the foodservice industry. It was a cross-sectional study conducted in Cuiabá ...(Brazil) among foodservice workers. Four instruments were used among foodservice workers for the examination: (a) job demands and resources, (b) job satisfaction, (c) burnout, and (d) work engagement. Food safety practices were measured using a validated risk-based checklist. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis model. In this study, 22 restaurants and 302 foodservice workers were examined. It was found that the “job demands-resources” model was valid for foodservice workers, i.e., burnout was strongly predicted by job demands (β = 0.550; p < 0.001); job resources were a positive predictor of work engagement (β = 0.258; p < 0.001); and burnout was a negative predictor of work engagement (β = −0.411; p < 0.001). Food safety violations were predicted by job crafting (β = −0.125; p = 0.029) and burnout (β = 0.143; p = 0.016). The results indicate that mitigating burnout and increasing job crafting can be important supporting strategies to improve food safety behaviors.
This study aimed to validate an evaluation instrument for food trucks (FTs) regarding its internal consistency and to establish a score classification according to the food contamination probability ...assessment. The instrument was applied in 44 food trucks (convenience sample), along with microbial analysis, in the Federal District, Brazil. After its application, sample collection and statistical analysis, the evaluation instrument was reduced to a 22-item final version. FTs were divided into three groups according to their ready-to-eat foods. Food trucks from Group A (hot and cold sandwiches) presented the highest percentage of contamination. The lowest percentage of contamination was observed in food trucks from Group C (regional and international cuisine). The application of the validated evaluation instrument to the 44 food trucks revealed that none achieved 100% adequacy. The reproducibility analysis exhibited an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) value of 0.780 (CI 95%: 0.597; 0.880), indicating good reproducibility of the instrument. The reliability assessment presented a Kuder⁻Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) value of 0.627 and a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.634, indicating good internal consistency. The proposed classification score was obtained by assigning 1 point for each item with an inadequate response, and the final score may vary between 0 and 20 points. Food trucks with up to 11 points exhibit low probability of contamination and low risk of foodborne diseases, while food trucks scoring 12 or more points exhibit a high probability of contamination and high risk of foodborne diseases. The evaluation instrument will allow effective assessment of the hygienic⁻sanitary practices and conditions of food trucks and potentially ensure consumers' access to safe food.
The aim of this study was to characterize the process of buying Family Farming (FF) food for the Brazilian School Feeding Program (BSFP) and compare the quality of menus served to the schoolchildren ...before and after the implementation of Law n. 11,947/09. This is an observational cross-sectional study developed with application of semi-structured questionnaire and evaluating menus. Eighty-two cities from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil participated of the study. Of these cities reported, 74.1% performed the purchase of products of FF for BSFP. The lack of interest of farmers and the deficient hygienic and sanitary conditions were the main difficulties reported. The quality of the menus offered to the schoolchildren improved significantly after the implementation of FF purchases. The partnership between FF and BSFP can contribute greatly to the development of healthy eating habits, not only by offering better nutritional quality menus, but also by implementing of nutritional education activities guided by the sustainable production and consumption of food.
O objetivo do estudo foi caracterizar o processo de compra de alimentos da Agricultura Familiar (AF) para a Alimentação Escolar (AE) e comparar a qualidade dos cardápios servidos aos escolares antes e após a implantação da lei n. 11.947/09. Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com aplicação de questionário semiestruturado e avaliação de cardápios. Participaram da pesquisa 82 municípios, dos estados de São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro. Destes, 74,1% informaram realizar a compra de produtos da AF para a AE. O desinteresse dos agricultores familiares e as condições higiênico-sanitárias deficientes foram as principais dificuldades reportadas pelos municípios para a efetivação das compras da AF. A qualidade dos cardápios oferecidos aos escolares melhorou significativamente após a implementação das compras da AF. A parceria entre a AF e a AE pode contribuir sobremaneira para o desenvolvimento de hábitos alimentares saudáveis, não só pelo oferecimento de cardápios de melhor qualidade nutricional, mas pela execução de atividades de educação nutricional pautadas na produção e consumo sustentável dos alimentos.
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•Qualitative research using sociological theories.•The professionals’ speeches from a range of hierarchical positions were analyzed.•Unprepared leadership was the reason most cited by ...respondents.•Constant surveillance does not promote kitchen workers’ food safety autonomy.•Suggestions for improving training are listed.
The level of contamination of food produced in commercial restaurants is directly related to the quality of training provided to kitchen workers. Leaders, who are responsible for food safety training, face the obstacle of food safety practices (FSP) daily application. However, noncompliance with FSP permeates both the problematization about training, and other influential elements in the kitchen environments. This study aims to characterize the current training in FSP, discuss the reasons that lead to noncompliance with FSP by kitchen workers in commercial restaurants, and indicate possible ways for improvements in food safety in this field. Twenty-one professionals' interviews were analyzed according to Bardin’s content analysis method. The analyzes were carried out from three groups: legislators/entities, teachers and agents of practice (all professionals directly involved in daily food preparation). Sociological concepts described by Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault grounded the exploration of the social aspects. The current training is characterized by the ineffectiveness of the application methods and content offered, the type of approach used by the nutritionist or leader responsible for its effectiveness, and leadership assumptions about the knowledge of FSP by kitchen workers. Forty-seven reasons for noncompliance with sanitary regulations were identified. Unprepared leadership and the perception of an absence of constant surveillance of kitchen workers stood out as the first and second most cited reasons. The multiplicity of factors indicates this theme’s complexity and shows that every person involved in commercial restaurants needs to be responsible for FSP. Addressing the challenges using the possible pathways of food safety could potentially improve compliance withfood safety practices.
Objetivou-se analisar as mudanças nas práticas em saúde a partir da inserção das atividades de uma universidade pública na atenção básica em saúde de Santos, SP, Brasil. Trata-se de pesquisa ...qualitativa com profissionais da atenção básica em saúde envolvidos em ações de ensino e extensão da universidade. Alguns entrevistados relatam não participar do planejamento conjunto das atividades e reiteram a dicotomia entre teoria e prática. Os profissionais apontam potencialidades na integração ensino-serviço-comunidade no que diz respeito a mudanças das práticas, entendendo que a universidade não substitui o serviço, mas propicia um momento de pausa e discussão, que permite mudar a forma de se relacionar e perceber os problemas dos usuários, de repensar a concepção de saúde, cuidado e trabalho em equipe, além de favorecer o estudo e o contato com novas ferramentas/formas de trabalho.