The environment within production and distribution of school meals

Abstract

Brazilian Food Guide reiterates that food should be safe from harvesting, transportation and even storage, preparation and distribution in the school environment. From this perspective, this study aimed to identify aspects of the environment, physical spaces and the surrounding area where school meals are produced and distributed, as well as food handling conditions and environmental education. Ten public schools in a city in Western Santa Catarina were analyzed. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to a representative from each school and to those responsible for the handling and distribution of school meals. It is an adapted instrument, based on the Collegiate Board Resolution of the National Health Surveillance Agency No. 216/2004 and No 275/2002. It was observed that there are environmental education actions in all schools; 90% (n=9) presented selective system of garbage collection and 20% (n=2) designed organic waste for composting. In 90% (n=9) of the schools, water comes from the public system and in 10% (n=1) from artesian water wells. None of the schools fully complies with the standards on the condition and adequacy of physical facilities in the areas of production and distribution of school meals. In all of them, partial adjustments were observed about legislation on physical spaces and environment besides the lack of guidance to handlers. This demonstrates that corrective and preventive actions are necessary to address the inadequacies found in schools.