Nutrition classification schemes for plant-based meat analogues: Drivers to assess nutritional quality and identity profile.

Changes in dietary patterns promoted by the emergence of alternative food systems are becoming increasingly common. The decrease in the consumption of animal-derived products promoted exponential growth in plant-based product demand and, consequently, the availability of several meat analogues for this consumer market. Plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs) were developed to mimic the physical and sensory characteristics of meats and their derivatives. Therefore, the composition of these products has been studied in some countries as an attempt to evaluate their nutritional quality in comparison with that of traditional meat products. The main aim of this study was to employ different Nutrition Classification Schemes (NCSs) to assess the nutritional quality of plant-based meat and to discuss the application of one or more NCSs in defining the identity and quality profile of these foods. Five NCSs were used: three nutrient-based (Nutri-Score; Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) from Brazil; NPM from PAHO); one food-based (NOVA classification); and one hybrid (Plant-Based Nutrient Profile Model). The nutritional composition and ingredients were collected from labels of 349 PBMAs; 117 were classified as burgers, and 182 products employed soy as the main protein ingredient. The use of different NCSs is strategic for PBMAs' nutritional quality evaluation, and the Nutri-Score was able to show the effectiveness of differentiating products as having poor nutritional quality. In this way, the employment of NPM from Brazil is recommended as a driver for PBMAs choices, especially due to the excellent agreement between the Nutri-Score and NPM from Brazil for burgers.

Positive influence of school meals on food consumption in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the contribution of school meals to healthy food consumption among public school students in Brazil. METHODS: The data from the National Adolescent School-Based Health Survey (PeNSE), containing 86,660 ninth-grade students, were used. The students were asked about their consumption of school meals and of food in general over the preceeding seven days and on the day before the interview. A multinomial regression was performed to assess the relationship between the students' food consumption over the previous seven days and regular consumption of school meals (≥3 days/week), which were adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Poisson regression models were used for the relationship between food consumed on the day before the interview and regular consumption of school meals. RESULTS: Nearly one in five students (22.8%) stated that they consume school meals regularly. The adjusted analyses revealed that the consumption of school meals was associated positively with moderate (3-4 days/week) and regular (≥5 days/week) consumption of beans, raw or cooked vegetables, cooked vegetables, and fruits, and with moderate consumption of raw vegetables. In addition, school meal consumption was associated negatively with moderate or regular consumption of fried salty snacks and processed meat, and with regular consumption of packaged salty snacks, crackers, sweet biscuits, and sweets. Based on food consumption on the day preceding the interview, the consumption of school meals significantly affect the consumption of raw and cooked vegetables, and fruits. CONCLUSION: School meal consumption affects positively the consumption of healthy foods among students.

[Factors associated with the consumption of school meals by Brazilian adolescents: results of the PeNSE survey 2012]. / Fatores associados ao consumo da alimentação escolar por adolescentes no Brasil: resultados da PeNSE 2012.

The aim was to study the association between socio-demographic and routine dietary variables and consumption of school meals by adolescents enrolled in public schools in Brazil. The study used data used from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE) 2012. To assess differences between schoolchildren based on whether or not they ate school meals, the study used Pearson's chi-square test, and associations were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models. Of the 86,660 students included in the study, 22.8% eat school meals. Higher consumption of school meals is associated with male gender, brown skin color, residence outside state capitals, working, and low maternal schooling, for those that ate breakfast and lunch with their parents. The findings are relevant for planning strategies to encourage consumption of school meals.

Fatores associados ao consumo da alimentação escolar por adolescentes no Brasil: resultados da PeNSE 2012 / Factors associated with the consumption of school meals by Brazilian adolescents: results of the PeNSE survey 2012 / Factores asociados con el consumo de alimentación escolar por parte de adolescentes en Brasil: resultados de la PeNSE 2012

Objetivou-se estudar a associação de variáveis sociodemográficas e de rotina alimentar de adolescentes com o consumo da alimentação escolar em escolas públicas brasileiras. Foram utilizados os dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE) realizada em 2012. Para avaliar a diferença entre os escolares que consomem e não consomem a refeição na escola, foi realizado o teste de qui-quadrado de Pearson e as análises de associação foram realizadas por modelos de regressão de Poisson univariados e múltiplos. Dos 86.660 participantes do estudo, 22,8% consomem alimentação escolar. O consumo da alimentação escolar é maior entre os alunos do sexo masculino, pardos, que não moram em capitais, trabalham, com mães com baixa escolaridade, para aqueles que tomam café da manhã e almoçam com os pais. Esses achados são relevantes para planejar estratégias que incentivem o consumo da alimentação escolar.

The aim was to study the association between socio-demographic and routine dietary variables and consumption of school meals by adolescents enrolled in public schools in Brazil. The study used data used from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE) 2012. To assess differences between schoolchildren based on whether or not they ate school meals, the study used Pearson’s chi-square test, and associations were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models. Of the 86,660 students included in the study, 22.8% eat school meals. Higher consumption of school meals is associated with male gender, brown skin color, residence outside state capitals, working, and low maternal schooling, for those that ate breakfast and lunch with their parents. The findings are relevant for planning strategies to encourage consumption of school meals.

El objetivo fue estudiar la asociación de variables sociodemográficas y de rutina alimentaria de adolescentes con el consumo de la alimentación escolar en escuelas públicas brasileñas. Se utilizaron los datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud del Escolar (PeNSE) realizada en 2012. Para evaluar la diferencia entre los escolares que consumen y no consumen la comida en la escuela, se realizó el test de chi-cuadrado de Pearson y los análisis de asociación se realizaron por modelos de regresión de Poisson univariados y múltiples. De los 86.660 participantes del estudio, un 22,8% consumen alimentación escolar. El consumo de la alimentación escolar es mayor entre los alumnos de sexo masculino, mestizos y mulatos, que no viven en capitales, trabajan, con madres con baja escolaridad, para aquellos que desayunan y almuerzan con los padres. Estos hallazgos son relevantes para planear estrategias que incentiven el consumo de la alimentación escolar.

Gestantes em situação de rua no município de Santos, SP: reflexões e desafios para as políticas públicas / Homeless pregnant women in the city of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil: reflections and challenges to public policies

O estudo teve como objetivo investigar o cotidiano de gestantes em situação de rua e sua relação com as políticas públicas na cidade de Santos, litoral do Estado de São Paulo. A coleta de dados foi feita através do registro e estudo de narrativas de memórias de vida. A análise deu-se pelo agrupamento temático de trechos das narrativas, sendo identificadas quatro principais categorias: vida na rua; cuidado e gestação; projetos futuros; e rede pública de serviços. As narrativas revelam mulheres com capacidade criativa para desejar uma vida melhor a partir da possibilidade de ter um filho. Entretanto, a condição social em que vivem, envolvendo a luta diária pela sobrevivência e, em alguns casos, a dependência química dificultam o planejamento de estratégias que transformem o desejo em um projeto de vida. Dessa forma, na maioria das vezes perdem a guarda de seus filhos. Embora conheçam os serviços públicos, quase sempre os acessam apenas em casos de urgência. Não se identificaram na rede de serviços assistenciais - pública e do terceiro setor - programas focados na questão da gestante em situação de rua, ainda que o Brasil já viva, atualmente, histórias de famílias que têm a situação de rua como experiência intergeracional. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de constituição de políticas intersetoriais, voltadas para gestantes em situação de rua.

The study aimed to investigate the daily routine of homeless pregnant women and their relation to public policies in the city of Santos, State of São Paulo. Data was collected through the record and study of narratives of life memories. The analysis was conducted through the thematic grouping of excerpts of narratives, and four main categories were identified: life on the street; care and pregnancy; future projects; and public services. The narratives reveal women with creative ability to desire a better life based on the possibility of having a child. However, the social condition in which they live, which involves the daily struggle for survival and, in some cases, drug addiction, hinders the planning of strategies to transform the desire into a life project. Thus, most of them lose custody of their children. Although they know the public services, they go to them only in emergencies, mostly. We have not identified, in the network of care services - public and third sector -, programs focusing on the issue of homeless pregnant women, even though Brazil already witnesses, today, stories of families who have the homeless situation as an intergenerational experience. The results point to the need of making intersectoral policies targeted at homeless pregnant women.