Scope of safety requirement in quality certificates used in food production in Brazil

Os certificados ou selos de qualidade são utilizados em diversos países, inclusive no Brasil, com o intuito de diferenciar produtos ou unidades de produção de alimentos. São considerados mecanismos de regulação da qualidade, que podem ser concedidos por organismos governamentais, credenciados a eles ou ainda por organizações não governamentais. Os motivos para a certificação são os mais diversos possíveis, destacando-se: demanda de clientes internacionais, imagem dos produtos junto aos clientes, demanda de consumidores mais exigentes ou ainda agregar valor ao produto ou serviço. Os procedimentos para concessão dos certificados variam, especialmente considerando-se a esfera de concessão (âmbito governamental ou associações do setor produtivo). Este trabalho, de caráter exploratório, avaliou a abrangência do requisito segurança em 13 procedimentos de certificação da qualidade identificados na cadeia produtiva de alimentos no Brasil. Constatou-se a predominância da utilização das ferramentas Boas Práticas de Fabricação e Boas Práticas Agrícolas, sendo que o sistema APPCC, ferramenta reconhecida pelo Codex Alimentarius para o gerenciamento de perigos na produção de alimentos é utilizado apenas por apenas 3 dos 13 certificados avaliados. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ABSTRACT Quality certificates or seals are used in many countries, including in Brazil, in order to differentiate products or food production plants. They are considered quality regulation mechanisms, which can be given by government agencies, authorized institutions or nongovernmental organizations. The reasons for certification are many, such as: international clients demand, image of the products among the clients, demanding consumers request, or to add value to a product or service. Procedures for getting permission to use these certificates may vary, especially considering if it is given by a governmental or nongovernmental agency. This article, an exploratory study, evaluated the scope of the safety requirement in 13 quality certificate or seals used in food production in Brazil. It was found that most of the certificates use the tools Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Agriculture Practices. Only three of the certificates consider HACCP, tool recognized by Codex Alimentarius for hazard management in food production as requirement

Quantification of nitrate and nitrite in fresh sausage

O objetivo do trabalho foi quantificar o teor de nitrato e nitrito de sódio em amostras de lingüiças frescal de frango e pernil, em quatro lotes distintos de sete produtores. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com tratamentos dispostos no esquema fatorial 7x4. Aos dados obtidos aplicou-se análise de variância, para obter o quadrado médio do resíduo. Para verificar a homogeneidade dos experimentos utilizou-se o teste de Hartley. Prosseguiu-se à análise conjunta para comparar os dois tipos de lingüiça. Aplicou-se o esquema fatorial 7x4x2 e obteve se o F significativo. Aplicou-se o teste de Tukey ao nível de 1% de significância. Os resultados indicam que as amostras de lingüiça frescal de frango apresentaram valores entre 7,6 e 312,5 ppm para a fração de nitrato de sódio e valores entre 1,2 e 221 ppm para a fração de nitrito; para as amostras de lingüiça frescal de pernil, os teores obtidos estiveram entre 8,6 e 363,6 ppm para a fração de nitrato e entre 0,6 a 162,2 ppm para a de nitrito. Entre os lotes de lingüiça de frango, a variação esteve entre 7,6 e 312,5 ppm para a fração de nitrato e entre 1,2 e 221ppm para a de nitrito; as amostras de lingüiça frescal de pernil apresentaram valores de 100 a 104,3 ppm para nitrato e de 0,6 a 162,2 ppm para nitrito. 7,1% das amostras estavam em desacordo com a legislação. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to quantify the nitrate and the nitrite level of four distinctive lots of pork leg and chicken sausages of seven different producers. The experimental outline was at random with a factorial treatment of 7x4. To the obtained data, a variance analysis was applied in order to reach the medium square of the residue. In order to verify homogeneity of the experiments, the Hartley test was used. It was followed by the joint analysis to compare the two types of sausages. The factorial schema of 7x4x2 was applied to obtain the significant F. The Tukey test was also conducted with a 1% significance level. The results indicated that the samples of chicken fresh sausages showed levels between 7.6 to 312.5 ppm for the sodium nitrate fraction and levels between 1.2 to 221 ppm for the nitrite fraction. For the samples of pork leg fresh sausages, the obtained values were between 8.6 to 363.6 ppm for nitrate and between 0.6 to 162.2 ppm for nitrite. Among the chicken sausage lots, the variation ranged from 7.6 to 312.5 ppm for the nitrate fraction and from 1.2 to 221 ppm for the nitrite. The pork leg sausage samples showed values from 100 to 104,3 ppm for nitrate and from 0.6 to 162.2 for nitrite. 7.1% of the samples were in discordance to the legislation

Brazilian vegetarians diet quality markers and comparison with the general population : a nationwide cross-sectional study

Background Vegetarianism is an increasingly common practice worldwide. Despite good evidence from other countries regarding vegetarians’ diet quality, data from the Brazilian population is still scarce. Objective To characterize the vegetarian Brazilian population and evaluate their diet quality compared to the general Brazilian population. Methods We performed a nationwide cross-sectional study using an online self-administered questionnaire, previously validated for the Brazilian population, to evaluate diet quality markers of vegetarians. The invitation to participate in the survey was spread nationwide, aimed at vegetarian communities. Individuals who considered themselves vegetarians and were at least 18 years old were eligible to participate. The results on regular intake and intake adequacy were compared among vegetarians and between genders using the Pearson’s chi-square test. The body mass index (BMI) were analyzed by the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey post-hoc test. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test verified normality. All analyses considered bilateral hypotheses and a significance level of 5% (p <0.05). Results Brazilian vegetarians presented better diet quality markers, such as higher regular weekly intake and adequate daily intake of fruits and vegetables, and lower regular intake of soft drinks when compared to the general Brazilian population. Vegetarians also presented a proportionally higher consumption of natural foods and lower consumption of processed foods. Among vegetarians, a higher proportion of vegans showed positive results regarding diet markers analysis, when compared to vegetarians, pesco-vegetarians, and semi-vegetarians. Conclusions Vegetarians showed better results of diet adequacy when compared to the general population in Brazil, and vegans fared better when compared with other vegetarians. Despite the good results found, a large proportion of the participants still did not achieve the fruits and vegetables daily intake, according to the World Health Organization recommendations

Determination of the naturalness index of gluten-free breads commercialized in brazilian supermarkets/ Determinação do índice de naturalidade dos pães sem glúten comercializados nos supermercados brasileiros

Gluten-free bread is the preference of many consumers who seek to eat healthier and suffer from physiological disorders when consuming products made with wheat, rye, barley and oats. However, there are still no studies that have evaluated the naturalness of this product. The aim of this study was to determine the naturalness index of gluten-free breads from different brands sold on Brazilian store websites. Terms such as “whole gluten-free bread” and “multigrain gluten-free bread” were used. 10 samples of different brands were selected. The brands of gluten-free breads were evaluated according to the scoring criteria from 1 (not natural) to 5 (extremely natural) for each factor and compared to the reference values. Descriptive statistical analyzes of mean, standard deviation, as well as Pearson's correlation index (r) were performed. In general, gluten-free breads had a Natural Index of 3.00 ± 0.55, being classified as moderately natural. This result pointed to the challenges of making more natural gluten-free breads, with the use of less additives and processed ingredients in the formulations, in order to serve a more conscious and selective market in relation to its food choices

Celiac disease, eating habits and practices and life quality of life

Esta comunicação apresenta o cenário da doença celíaca e suas implicações em hábitos, práticas alimentares e qualidade de vida de indivíduos intolerantes ao glúten. Apresenta dados importantes sobre a questão que, mundialmente, é considerada problema de saúde pública. Por ser uma doença cujo tratamento é fundamentalmente dietético, a terapia durante a transição alimentar deve ser bem conduzida pelo nutricionista para melhor adesão do paciente à dieta, considerando que a inclusão de novas práticas alimentares pode significar uma ruptura com a identidade individual e cultural: a alimentação de cada cidadão não pode ser deslocada da sociedade. Nesse contexto, a melhoria da qualidade de vida passa a ser um dos resultados esperados tanto das práticas assistenciais quanto das políticas públicas para o setor nos campos da promoção da saúde e da prevenção de doenças. A vigilância sanitária contempla as ações capazes de eliminar, diminuir ou prevenir riscos à saúde e de intervir nos problemas sanitários decorrentes do meio ambiente, da produção e circulação de bens e da prestação de serviços de interesse da saúde. O conhecimento do cenário da doença celíaca no País se justifica pela necessidade de fundamentar as ações da política de alimentação e nutrição ancoradas no conceito de alimentação saudável com ênfase na dieta isenta de glúten. Os artigos pesquisados foram selecionados nas bases de dados MedLine e SciELO, considerando o período de 1995 a 2006.This study presents information on celiac disease and its implications on the eating habits and practices, as well as on the quality of life, of gluten-intolerant patients. Papers published from 1995 to 2006 were searched in the MedLine and SciELO databases. This paper includes important data about this disease, which is considered a public health problem throughout the world. Since it is a disease whose treatment is essentially dietary, therapy during food transition must be well conducted by the dietician in order to improve the patient's adherence to the diet since the introduction of new food practices may mean a rupture with the individual's culture and identity: the diet of each citizen cannot be disconnected from the society in which he or she lives in. In this context, quality of life is included, as quality of life is expected to improve both because of the care provided and because of the public policies for the sector in the areas of health promotion and prevention of diseases. Sanitary surveillance contemplates the activities that are capable of eliminating, reducing or preventing health risks and intervene in the sanitation problems that are secondary to the environment, production and circulation of goods and provision of health-related services. Knowledge about celiac disease in the country is justified because of the need to base food and nutrition policies on the concept of healthy eating, emphasizing a gluten-free diet

Identifier of regional food presence (IRFP) : a new perspective to evaluate sustainable menus

The menu offered in restaurants must meet different aspects of quality. Cultural elements are related to their acceptance and can contribute to the preservation of habits, sustainable agricultural systems, and the maintenance of biodiversity and sustainability, among other factors. In this context, this research proposes an instrument for classifying menus regarding the presence/absence of regional foods called the identifier of regional foods presence (IRFP) as a new perspective to evaluate sustainable menus. For this, lists of regional preparations and ingredients were prepared for each Brazilian region. Sequentially, we submitted the dishes/ingredients to a developed decision tree for the classification of foods into regional or national foods. The score, based on the presence/absence of regional foods, considered the components of a menu, with zero attributed to a lack of regional ingredients/dishes. For national dishes/ingredients, researchers attributed a minimum score equal to ten. One regional food gave a score of50 to the menu, and with more than one regional food, a daily menu scored 100. The final menu evaluation was based on the mean scores of the menus in each restaurant. Scores between 0–49.9 were considered inadequate; 50–74.9, adequate; and excellent between 75–100. The IRFP was applied to 111 menus with data collected from all the offered dishes. In total, the study evaluated data from 774 recipes from the menus of 37 restaurants located in the five Brazilian regions with a similar operating system. ANOVA was used to verify if there was a statistical difference between the mean score of each Brazilian region (p < 0.05). The average score obtained by the IRFP in menus from Brazilian community restaurants was 80.3 ± 30.9 (excellent), showing a significant difference between the Northeast and Southeast Regions, with a more significant presence of regional foods in the Northeast (87.7 ± 28.7). The use of the IRFP in menus was shown to be easy in its application, contributing to a stimulation of the use of regional items and, consequently, to the direct and indirect benefits generated for the food system and the local population

Epidemiological surveillance system on foodborne diseases in Brazil after 10-years of its implementation : completeness evaluation

This study aimed to evaluate the data quality of the Brazilian Epidemiological Surveillance System on Foodborne Diseases (VE-DTA) through the evaluation of the completeness of the record after 10-years of its implementation. The study evaluated the measurement of completeness by quantifying ignored, incomplete or blank responses of the data items filled. The evaluation used the percentage of completion of these items regarding the total number of notifications registered in the system. We organized the results according to the general Category of completeness of the database, by year of notification and region of occurrence. We also evaluated the overall completeness percentages of the database and the completeness levels according to the degree of recommendation of completion of each variable (mandatory, essential, and complementary) by the VE-DTA manual. The system presented 7037 outbreaks of foodborne diseases. According to the completeness classification, the database presented general classification as Category 1 since it has 82.1% (n = 5.777) of variables with the level of completion up to 75.1%. We observed that 8.6% of the database was classified as category 2; 9.2% as category 3 and 0.1% as category 4. The improvement on database quality regarding completeness can positively impact on public health and public policies, reducing the number of FBDs deaths

Determination and comparison of the naturalness index of multigrane breads commercialized in brazilian supermarkets / Determinação e comparação do índice de naturalidade dos pães multigranadas comercializados nos supermercados brasileiros

Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency in food labeling. This seems to be particularly the case with the naturalness of food. The Food Naturalness Index is composed of four factors, namely, cultivation practices, exemption from additives, exemption from unexpected ingredients and degree of processing. The objective of this work was to determine and compare the naturalness index of multigrain breads sold in Brazilian markets. For that, 24 labels of multigrain breads were selected and evaluated according to the scoring criteria from 1 (not natural) to 5 (extremely natural) for each factor and compared to the reference values. Descriptive statistical analyzes of mean, standard deviation, as well as Pearson's correlation index (r) were performed. In general, the breads were classified as moderately natural, which alerts the food industry to a new profile of products with more natural characteristics, in order to promote acceptance of consumers concerned with health and well-being

How do consumers understand food processing? : a study on the Brazilian population

Food guides are official documents that guide consumers’ food choices. They inform the qualitative classification of food groups and messages on how to adopt a healthy diet. The classifications and nomenclatures adopted in these documents vary according to cultural, nutritional, and scientific criteria. This study aimed to evaluate the understanding of Brazilian consumers regarding food classification according to the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population (FGBP) concepts. An instrument was constructed to assess consumer understanding. It was named “Understanding of the Level of Processing of Food” (ULPF) and validated according to the concepts of constructs presented by psychometrics such as the Delphi methodology. The instrument was composed of 36 items approved by experts (concordance > 80% and with good internal consistency). A total of 2333 Brazilians from all regions participated in the study. The results suggest that food classification according to the level of processing was difficult for participants to understand. About 85% of them did not understand or did not know the definitions and classification of food and preparations according to food and science technology (FST) and the FGBP. More than 50% of the participants believed that it was easier to classify food according to food groups

Food safety conditions in home-kitchens : a cross-sectional study in the Federal District/Brazil

This study aimed to analyze the food safety conditions in home kitchens from the Brazilian Federal District. A previously validated instrument composed of 77 items (in four blocks) was used to evaluate the safety conditions in home kitchens. A survey was carried out with on-site application with 226 home kitchens’ food handlers in the Federal District, Brazil to evaluate Brazilian home kitchens’ good practices. Of the home kitchen food handlers, most of them were female (64.6%), had completed undergraduate education (29.2%), and were 45–59 years old (23.5%). The visited households had an average of 3.38 ± 1.48 residents that ate some of their meals at home, and 40% declared the monthly family income to be between 5 and 15 Brazilian minimum wages (MW). Regarding the reliability of the instrument, from the KR-20 test, it was verified that the instrument presents good internal consistency (α = 0.758). According to the instrument classification, the home kitchens’ sample was considered as at a medium risk of food contamination (46.5% of them presented from 51 to 75% of conformities to the instrument). There was a statistical difference between house-kitchens with a family income from zero to one minimum wage (MW) and those receiving from 5 to 15 MW (p = 0.017), as well as between those from zero to one MW and who earn above 15 MW (p = 0.009). The result of the on-site evaluation shows that the instrument was able to measure food safety conditions in Brazilian Federal District domestic kitchens. Such findings can contribute positively to the development of actions in health education that help in the adoption of good practices of food manipulation and, consequently, in the reduction in foodborne disease outbreaks in residences