Evaluating The Implementation Of A Canteen-Based Food Nutrition Intervention Among Schoolchildren: A Prospective Intervention Study

@#Background: School children are at great risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Their eating pattern in school is influenced by the availability of food served within the school environment. The purpose of this paper was to determine the effectiveness of a canteen-based food nutrition intervention, designed according to the theory of planned behaviour, on the knowledge, perception and choices of healthy food among primary schoolchildren. Methods: This was a prospective intervention study using a two-group design. Six school canteens from the ninety-eight primary schools were randomly allocated to an intervention group or a control group. All the food handlers in the intervention group were given a twelve-week training course in food nutrition. On the completion of the course, 293 Standard Six students from these schools, were interviewed with a nutritional questionnaire on food in their school canteens. The training programme for the intervention group and the questionnaire for the students were developed and validated for the study, and a power calculation made for the sample size of students.Results: The students in both groups were homogeneous in gender and body mass. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 19.26 (SD: 0.38) and 19.47 (SD: 0.39) for the intervention and the control group respectively. There were more schoolchildren in the intervention group who purchased foods in school canteens (p 0.0036)of milk and milk products (p 0.034), and white rice (p<0.001). Fewer purchased fast food (p<0.001), and more had a better perception towards serving of healthy food (p 0.001). There were no significant differences in the knowledge level (p 0.095) and purchased fruit (p 0.557) between the groups. Conclusion: A school-based nutrition programme was associated with significant improvement in the perception of students towards foods served in school canteens and in their choices of healthy food. The study provided a framework for the design and implementation of future food nutrition intervention in school canteens.

Cantinas escolares de Florianópolis: existência e produtos comercializados após a instituição da lei de regulamentação / School canteens of Florianópolis: existence and foods for sale after the institution of the law of regulation

OBJETIVO: Realizar um diagnóstico da existência das cantinas em Florianópolis, verificando os alimentos e bebidas comercializados, após a instituição da Lei Estadual de Regulamentação das Cantinas. MÉTODOS: Questionário estruturado foi aplicado por telefone com os diretores ou responsáveis pelas cantinas do universo de escolas de ensino fundamental das redes municipal, estadual e particular de Florianópolis. Os dados foram processados e analisados utilizando-se o software SPSS versão 10.0. RESULTADOS: Das 117 instituições do município em 2006, 89,7 por cento aceitaram participar. Dessas, 53,3 por cento possuem cantina, sendo 31 particulares, 22 estaduais e apenas 3 municipais. Os principais motivos referidos para a ausência de cantinas nas escolas públicas consistiram na existência do Programa de Alimentação Escolar e nas exigências para sua adequação à Lei. Dentre os alimentos proibidos pela Lei, salienta-se que os salgados fritos e industrializados não são mais comercializados pelas escolas, e a maioria não comercializa mais refrigerantes (98,2 por cento) e pipocas industrializadas (92,9 por cento). Ressalta-se, também, que os sucos naturais e os salgados assados são comercializados por 75,0 por cento e 98,2 por cento das escolas, respectivamente. Por outro lado, 60,7 por cento das escolas comercializam sucos artificiais. Ainda de acordo com a Lei, as cantinas deverão disponibilizar dois tipos de frutas sazonais. No entanto 60,7 por cento dos estabelecimentos não disponibilizam frutas ou salada de frutas. CONCLUSÃO: Itens proibidos pela Lei foram fortemente reduzidos ou retirados de comercialização, porém alimentos considerados inadequados continuam sendo comercializados em muitas escolas. A fiscalização desses estabelecimentos é necessária, juntamente com ações educativas destinadas aos proprietários das cantinas, escolares, pais e professores.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify the existence of canteens in Florianópolis and the foods and beverages that they are selling after the institution of the State Law of Regulation of Canteens. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered by telephone to the school principals or the person in charge of the canteens in the elementary schools of Florianópolis. The data were processed and analyzed by the software SPSS 10.0. RESULTS: Of the 117 institutions of the municipality in 2006, 89.7 percent participated. Of these, 53.3 percent of these schools had canteens where 31 were private schools, 22 were state schools and only 3 were municipal schools. The main reasons for the absence of canteens in public schools were the existence of the School Food Program and the requirements imposed by this Law. Amongst the foods forbidden by this Law are fried and other commercial snacks. The majority of the schools do not sell soft drinks (98.2 percent) or commercial pop corns (92.9 percent). Natural juices and baked homemade snacks are sold by 75.0 percent and 98.2 percent of the schools, respectively. On the other hand, 60.7 percent of the schools sell artificially-flavored juices. The Law requires that the canteens sell two types of seasonal fruits, but 60.7 percent of them do not sell fruits or fruit salads. CONCLUSION: Items prohibited by the Law were rarely or no longer sold; however, foods of low nutritional value are still being sold in many schools. It is necessary to inspect these establishments and provide nutritional education for canteen owners, students, parents and teachers.

First law regulating school canteens in Brazil: evaluation after seven years of implementation / Primera ley de regulación de las cantinas escolares en Brasil: evaluación después de siete años de aplicación

The high prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren in Brazil and worldwide has shown that strategies to promote healthy eating habits are needed. Santa Catarina was the first Brazilian State to promulgate specific legislation to regulate the food commercialized in schools (Law nº 12.061/2001). The objective was to assess the functioning of school canteens in eight key municipalities of Santa Catarina, investigating whether the foods sold were in accordance with the Law. A questionnaire was completed by the principals and those responsible for the canteens. Item Response Theory was used to examine the levels of compliance with the Law. In all 345 schools took part. Of these, 156 (45 percent) had a canteen. The presence of a canteen was significantly higher in the private sector (p<0.001) The majority of the canteens (n=105; 68.2 percent) did not sell fried snacks, soft drinks, industrialised popcorn, hard candies, lollipops and chewing gum and industrialised packaged snacks. The items which were least likely to comply with the Law were juices and the daily availability of fruits. The notice board on diet was present in only 7.1 percent of the establishments. Many canteens offered items of low nutritional value. The inspection of these establishments is necessary, together with educational actions targeting the proprietors of the canteens as well as the schools themselves. Training for the canteen’s proprietors may constitute a strategy that will guarantee the economic viability of these establishments and the possibility of them being transforming into places of health promotion.

Las elevadas tasas de sobrepeso y obesidad en los escolares han planteado la necesidad de aplicar estrategias para promover la alimentación saludable en esta población. Santa Catarina fue el primer estado brasileño a crear legislación para regular los alimentos vendidos en las cantinas escolares (Ley nº 12.061/2001). El objetivo fue realizar un diagnóstico sobre el funcionamiento de las cantinas en ocho municipios polos de Santa Catarina, comprobando si los alimentos vendidos están de conformidad con la Ley. Se aplicó un cuestionario a los directores y responsables de las cantinas. Se usó la Teoría de la Respuesta al Ítem para comprobar los niveles de adecuación a la Ley. Los participantes del estudio fueron 345 escuelas. De éstas, 156 (45 por ciento) tienen cantina. La presencia de la cantina fue estatísticamente mayor en la red privada (p<0.001) La mayoría de las cantinas (n=105; 68,2 por ciento) no vende snacks fritos, refrescos, palomitas de maíz industrializadas, caramelos, chicles o bocadillos industrializados. Los puntos con mayor dificultad de adecuación a la Ley fueron los jugos no naturales y la disponibilidad diaria de frutas. Sólo 7,1 por ciento de las cantinas tenían mural sobre alimentación. Muchas cantinas venden alimentos de bajo valor nutricional. La vigilancia de estos establecimientos es necesaria, junto con acciones educativas destinadas a los propietarios de las cantinas y a los estudiantes. La formación de los propietarios de las cantinas será la estrategia para garantizar la viabilidad económica y la posibilidad concreta de la cantina convertirse a su vez en una zona de promoción de la salud.