The effect of new purchase criteria on food procurement for the Brazilian school feeding program

- The criteria of direct purchase of food from local family farms contributes to increases in quantity and variety of healthy foods.
- The direct purchase from local farmers can promote healthy feeding programs in schools.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of the school feeding program purchase criteria on the quantity, variety and origin of food products acquired for school meals in a municipality in Brazil.MethodAnalysis of purchase lists for two years prior and two years after implementation of the purchase criteria (2010). The origin (family farms (FF)/other providers (OP)) and nutritional characteristics (recommended/controlled) of food products were studied, registering annual varieties (n) and daily quantities (kg/day); contrast of proportions was applied.ResultsThe acquisition of recommended products increased, and the quantity of controlled products decreased (p = 0.005). Purchase of legumes and vegetables (p < 0.05) increased and high sugar foods decreased (p = 0.02). The majority of food products in 2010 and 2011 were acquired from OP (64% and 61%), although FF provided the greatest proportion of legumes and vegetables. Ten new varieties of recommended products were incorporated, 9 of which were acquired from FF.ConclusionThe criteria of direct purchase from family farms resulted in an increase in the variety and quantity of healthy foods in the schools in the municipality.