Ana Lúcia de Freitas Saccol

Inspection Score and Grading System for Food Services in Brazil: The Results of a Food Safety Strategy to Reduce the Risk of Foodborne Diseases during the 2014 FIFA World Cup

In 2014, Brazil hosted one of the most popular sport competitions in the world, the FIFA World Cup. Concerned about the intense migration of tourists, the Brazilian government decided to deploy a food safety strategy based on inspection scores and a grading system applied to food services. The present study aimed to evaluate the results of the food safety strategy deployed during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. To assess food safety, an evaluation instrument was applied twice in 1927 food service establishments from 26 cities before the start of the competition. This instrument generated a food safety score for each establishment that ranged from 0.0 (no flaws observed) to 2565.95, with four possible grades: A (0.0–13.2); B (13.3–502.6); C (502.7–1152.2); and pending (more than 1152.3). Each food service received a stamp with the grade of the second evaluation. After the end of the World Cup, a study was conducted with different groups of the public to evaluate the acceptance of the strategy. To this end, 221 consumers, 998 food service owners or managers, 150 health surveillance auditors, and 27 health surveillance coordinators were enrolled. These participants completed a survey with positive and negative responses about the inspection score system through a 5-point Likert scale. A reduction in violation scores from 393.1 to 224.4 (p < 0.001) was observed between the first and second evaluation cycles. Of the food services evaluated, 38.7% received the A stamp, 41.4% the B stamp, and 13.9% the C stamp. All positive responses on “system reliability” presented a mean of 4.0 or more, indicating that the public believed this strategy is reliable for communicating risks and promoting food safety. The strategy showed positive results regarding food safety and public acceptance. The deployed strategy promoted improvements in the food safety of food services. The implementation of a permanent policy may be well accepted by the public and may greatly contribute to a reduction in foodborne diseases (FBDs).

Diagnóstico das condições higiênicas de serviços de alimentação de acordo com a NBR 15635:2008

Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the hygienic conditions of food service in accordance to the Brazilian Normative NBR 15635:2008. We evaluated 23 food services in the city of Santa Maria (RS) during the months of July and August in the year of 2011. As an inclusion criteria of the research, the food service business from the district of Santa Maria (RS) registered in the Surveillance of health that have the license in 2009 and updated in 2010 were used. The data collection instrument was a checklist in the good practices drawn from the Brazilian Normative for foodservices. The results showed that only 4% (n = 1) from the food services were evaluated in group I (good), 70% (n = 16) were classified in Group II (Regular) and 26% (n = 6) were classified in Group III (Bad). It can be concluded that the majority of the evaluated establishments according to used the rules are classified in the group regularly and bad, thus not attending to the requirements of the Normative.

The Role of Training Strategies in Food Safety Performance: Knowledge, Behavior, and Management

Abstract It is well known that participation in training programs tends to improve food handlers knowledge. However, several factors can prevent the transformation of food safety knowledge into positive attitude and adequate practices. Among these factors we find the risk/benefit perceptions, perceived behavioral control and intention, motivation, leadership, and other psychological factors. Understanding the relationship of these factors can provide guidance to plan more effective food safety training. The food safety laws and standards in several countries, including Brazil, list the topics to be addressed in training of food handlers. However, the laws and standards do not establish clear guidelines. This chapter aspires to discuss different strategies to evaluate food handlers and practices to plan strategies applied to handlers in food chain production. Such discussion aims to present the weaknesses and strengths in food safety quality control, covering the role of trainers, stakeholders, the laws, and food safety standards.

Informal and formal food trade in the school environment in a city in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the trading of food in schools, both informally and in canteens. The study was carried out from March to May 2011, in a universe of 110 elementary and middle schools of the municipal, state and private networks of a municipality in the central region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, of which 104 (94.5%) took part in the survey; 28.8% had a canteen, with a marked presence in the private schools. Of the schools that had no canteen, 40.4% had informal ways of food trading, mostly in the municipal schools. In the canteens there was a greater supply of fried snacks and pastries, hot dogs, pizzas, burgers, candy, chewing gum and lollipops, sodas, processed juices and water. The foods most sold in all the environments were fried goods, baked goods, hot dogs, candies, chocolates and soft drinks. In summary one can conclude that no school canteen conformed in full to current law, but the canteens of the private schools were more satisfactory than those in the other schools.

Comércio informal e formal de alimentos no âmbito escolar de um município da região central do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the trading of food in schools, both informally and in canteens. The study was carried out from March to May 2011, in a universe of 110 elementary and middle schools of the municipal, state and private networks of a municipality in the central region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, of which 104 (94.5%) took part in the survey; 28.8% had a canteen, with a marked presence in the private schools. Of the schools that had no canteen, 40.4% had informal ways of food trading, mostly in the municipal schools. In the canteens there was a greater supply of fried snacks and pastries, hot dogs, pizzas, burgers, candy, chewing gum and lollipops, sodas, processed juices and water. The foods most sold in all the environments were fried goods, baked goods, hot dogs, candies, chocolates and soft drinks. In summary one can conclude that no school canteen conformed in full to current law, but the canteens of the private schools were more satisfactory than those in the other schools.

Important Regulatory Aspects in the Receipt of Animal Products by Food Services

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to review the current legislation and rules in Brazil that involve quality assurance of animal products during food service reception. Published federal legislation and technical regulations were verified to present a broad general approach to raw material reception. Food service determinations included specifications of the criteria for evaluating and selecting suppliers, verifying the transport system, reception area requirements, and inspecting raw material. For product approval, the packaging, labeling, and temperature should be evaluated. However, periodic microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory support assessment analyses are not required for receiving animal products. For the safety of the raw material, it was concluded that the largest impacts came from the regulation and supervision of the food sector provider because of the challenges of food service and a lack of requirements to use more complex evaluation methods during the reception of raw materials.

Avaliação das boas práticas em serviços de alimentação de terminais rodoviários no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

Summary A bus terminal is a place of arrival and departure of passengers and the place where these people make use of the facilities oferred by its. In this context, we analyzed the Good Conduction of the food services in bus terminals in the main cities of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The work was developed in the period of June to Novemeber 2009 in 5 cities with the biggest Gross National Product of the State. It was applied an avaliation’s list and it was verified the general average percentage of adequation, per city and the general average percentage for item group. Evidences showed a percentage of 42,50% of general adequation in these cities. Managing water and handling waste were the requirements with best qualification. Fiscalization and orientation is needed by the government for a better awareness for the riscs that involve the lack of food control in these