OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to assess food wastage in the Hospital Emergency Section of the Clinical Hospital of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of Sao Paulo and to propose a strategy to face this problem. METHODS: Food wastage by patients and hospital staff was analyzed. The cost of all the food, supplied and wasted, was estimated. RESULTS: The results were calculated based on descriptive analytical data collected during a 14d period. A total of 650 meals were analyzed, totaling 402kg of food, from which 123kg (31%) returned to the Division. From the delivered meals, 71 (15%) were returned intact, that is, they had not been tried by the patient. Disregarding the returned-intact meals, 353kg of food were offered and 77kg (22%) were wasted. The estimated cost of the total food provision and wastage was US$25,000 and US$7,580.00 respectively. CONCLUSION: The results reveal large food wastage, unacceptable by the operational rules of a nutrition service in a hospital. Corrective measures, as administrative and operational changes, are necessary. Interdisciplinary actions may be mandatory to reduce food wastage.
waste of food; food services; hospital food; nutrition services
