National food security assessment through the analysis of food consumption data from Household Consumption and Expenditure Surveys: The case of Brazil's Pesquisa de Orçamento Familiares 2008/09

By analyzing the food consumption data from the 2008/09 Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares in Brazil, we demonstrate that failing to account for food consumed for free at school may significantly distort the assessment of the distribution of food consumption among households and therefore the assessment of the extent of food insecurity in the country. The results of our analysis enabled a revision of the FAO estimate of the Prevalence of Undernourishment in Brazil and provide useful suggestions for better design of food consumption modules to be included in Household Consumption and Expenditure Surveys (HCES). Additionally, we identify areas for further research on food consumption data to improve national food security assessments.