Sustainable perspective in public educational institutions restaurants : from foodstuffs purchase to meal offer

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate aspects of sustainable nutrition in Public Educational Institutions Restaurants (PEIR) in a Brazilian state. Cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted in six PEIR. Purchased foodstuffs for a one-month period were investigated from the perspective of their origin (place of production), processing degree and nutritional profile. The presence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in packaged foodstuffs was also evaluated. Regarding served meals, a four-week period was evaluated in each PEIR considering the Water Footprint (WF) and the nutrient composition of the lunch meals. Results showed that 31.6% of foodstuffs purchased in the period evaluated were from national origin. Analysis of the processing degree of food purchased showed 64.8% unprocessed or minimally processed foods. However, 60.8% of the foodstuffs purchased in a one-month period presented sodium excess, 46.9% had an excess of saturated fat and 40.1% contained an excess of free sugar. The presence of GMO was observed in 9.2% of packed foods. The meals showed a per capita WF average of 2165.8 liters, an energy supply of 834.6 kcal and 1,289.6 mg of sodium per meal served. Foodstuff purchase and menu planning are essential steps towards achieving sustainable meal production and the results showed that foodstuffs purchased in institutional restaurants during the evaluated period was not in line with the precepts of a healthy and sustainable diet. Studies that assess the impact of meal production on the different dimensions of sustainable nutrition are essential to better understand this complex production process

Environmental impacts of university restaurant menus : a case study in Brazil

The production of collective meals in institutional restaurants demands a great use of natural resources. The search for strategies to reduce negative environmental impacts in this sector is essential to offer meals that are not only healthy but also sustainable. In this study the evaluation of water footprint (WF) of menus offered in a public university restaurant located in the northeast of Brazil and the verification of the origin of foodstuff purchased to compose the menus in 2 months were carried out. The study is transversal, descriptive, and exploratory and the data were collected between March and April 2018. Water footprint of 112 traditional and vegetarian menus was calculated and the results showed that the WF of traditional menus was higher (p < 0.0001) than the vegetarian menus. Weekly average per capita of WF was 2752.0 L for traditional menus and 1113.9 L for the vegetarian option, with animal protein intake in the traditional version being the main factor for this difference. It was identified that 49.47% of the foods used in the studied period originated from the same state where the restaurant is located, with fresh vegetables being the food group with the highest contribution. Thus, we conclude that although the restaurant purchases local food products, the environmental impact of the choice of foods that is included in the menus must be taken into account. The utilization of local foodstuff and the decrease of animal protein in the menus can be a good strategy to encourage sustainable actions in food services meal production

Adquisición de alimentos en un restaurante institucional desde una perspectiva nutricional y sostenible : estudio de caso

Em meio ao cenário de produção de alimentos atu-al e suas repercussões nas mudanças climáticas, os restaurantes institucionais devem promover ações para diminuir impactos ambientais negativos causa-dos pela produção de refeições, além de garantir a oferta de alimentação saudável. Este estudo tem por objetivo caracterizar e avaliar a aquisição de alimen-tos em um restaurante institucional de uma universi-dade pública sob a perspectiva nutricional e susten-tável. Foi avaliada a presença de nutrientes críticos e o nível de processamento dos alimentos adquiridos em um período de dois meses. Dos 118 alimentos adquiridos, 55,1% foram classificados como in na-tura ou minimamente processados e 32,2% como alimentos ultraprocessados. Em relação ao excesso de nutrientes críticos, todos os grupos, com exce-ção das leguminosas, apresentaram no mínimo três parâmetros indesejáveis, sendo o sódio, gorduras totais e açúcar livre os mais recorrentes. De forma individual o sódio foi o nutriente em excesso mais encontrado entre os grupos de alimentos, seguido de gorduras saturadas. Gorduras trans (8,2%), foram identificadas apenas no grupo de cereais. A etapa de escolha dos alimentos que serão utilizados na produção de refeições para coletividades é de fun-damental importância para garantir o fornecimento de uma alimentação saudável e sustentável. Os re-sultados desse estudo sinalizam para a importância de se repensar o processo de compras de alimentos em instituições públicas de forma a contemplar os aspectos da nutrição sustentável.Considering the current food production scenario and its repercussions on climate change, institu-tional restaurants should promote actions to reduce negative environmental impacts caused by the production of meals, in addition to ensuring healthy foodsupply. This study aims to characterize and evaluate the acquisition of food in an institutional restaurant of a public university from a nutritional and sustainable perspective. The presence of critical nutrients and the processing level of food pur-chased during a period of two months were evaluated. Of the 118 foods purchased, 55.1% were clas-sified as fresh or minimally processed and 32.2% as ultra-processed. Regarding the excess of critical nutrients, all groups, with the exception of legumes, presented at least three undesirable parameters, with sodium, total fats and free sugar being the most recurrent. Individually, sodium was the excess nutrient most found among food groups, followed by saturated fats. Trans fats (8.2%) were identified only in the cereal group. The stage of choosing the foods that will be used in the production of meals for communities is of fundamental importance to ensure the provision of healthy and sustainable food. The results of this study signal the importance of rethinking the process of purchasing food in public institutions in order to contemplate aspects of sustainable nutrition.En medio del escenario actual de producción de alimentos y sus repercusiones en el cambio climáti-co, los restaurantes institucionales deben promover acciones para reducir los impactos ambientales negativos causados por la producción de comidas, además de garantizar el suministro de alimentos saludables. Este estudio tiene como objetivo caracterizar y evaluar la adquisición de alimentos en un restaurante institucional de una universidad pública desde una perspectiva nutricional y sostenible. Se evaluó la presencia de nutrientes críticos y el nivel de procesamiento de alimentos adquiridos en un periodo de dos meses. De los 118 alimentos comprados, el 55.1% se clasificaron como frescos o mínimamente procesados y el 32.2% como ultraprocesados. Con respecto al exceso de nutrientes críticos, todos los grupos, a excepción de las legumbres, presentaron al menos tres parámetros in-deseables, siendo el sodio, las grasas totales y el azúcar libre los más recurrentes. Individualmente, el sodio fue el exceso de nutrientes que se encontró con mayor frecuencia entre los grupos de ali-mentos, seguido de las grasas saturadas. Las grasas trans (8,2%) se identificaron solo en el grupo de cereales. La etapa de elección de los alimentos que se utilizarán en la producción de comidas para as comunidades es de fundamental importancia para asegurar la provisión de alimentos saludables y sostenibles. Los resultados de este estudio señalan la importancia de repensar el proceso de compra de alimentos en las instituciones públicas para contemplar aspectos de la nutrición sostenible

Sustainable perspective in public educational institutions restaurants : from foodstuffs purchase to meal offer

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate aspects of sustainable nutrition in Public Educational Institutions Restaurants (PEIR) in a Brazilian state. Cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted in six PEIR. Purchased foodstuffs for a one-month period were investigated from the perspective of their origin (place of production), processing degree and nutritional profile. The presence of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in packaged foodstuffs was also evaluated. Regarding served meals, a four-week period was evaluated in each PEIR considering the Water Footprint (WF) and the nutrient composition of the lunch meals. Results showed that 31.6% of foodstuffs purchased in the period evaluated were from national origin. Analysis of the processing degree of food purchased showed 64.8% unprocessed or minimally processed foods. However, 60.8% of the foodstuffs purchased in a one-month period presented sodium excess, 46.9% had an excess of saturated fat and 40.1% contained an excess of free sugar. The presence of GMO was observed in 9.2% of packed foods. The meals showed a per capita WF average of 2165.8 liters, an energy supply of 834.6 kcal and 1,289.6 mg of sodium per meal served. Foodstuff purchase and menu planning are essential steps towards achieving sustainable meal production and the results showed that foodstuffs purchased in institutional restaurants during the evaluated period was not in line with the precepts of a healthy and sustainable diet. Studies that assess the impact of meal production on the different dimensions of sustainable nutrition are essential to better understand this complex production process

Environmental Impacts of University Restaurant Menus: A Case Study in Brazil

The production of collective meals in institutional restaurants demands a great use of natural resources. The search for strategies to reduce negative environmental impacts in this sector is essential to offer meals that are not only healthy but also sustainable. In this study the evaluation of water footprint (WF) of menus offered in a public university restaurant located in the northeast of Brazil and the verification of the origin of foodstuff purchased to compose the menus in 2 months were carried out. The study is transversal, descriptive, and exploratory and the data were collected between March and April 2018. Water footprint of 112 traditional and vegetarian menus was calculated and the results showed that the WF of traditional menus was higher (p &lt; 0.0001) than the vegetarian menus. Weekly average per capita of WF was 2752.0 L for traditional menus and 1113.9 L for the vegetarian option, with animal protein intake in the traditional version being the main factor for this difference. It was identified that 49.47% of the foods used in the studied period originated from the same state where the restaurant is located, with fresh vegetables being the food group with the highest contribution. Thus, we conclude that although the restaurant purchases local food products, the environmental impact of the choice of foods that is included in the menus must be taken into account. The utilization of local foodstuff and the decrease of animal protein in the menus can be a good strategy to encourage sustainable actions in food services meal production