OBJETIVE: The main objectives of this research are to verify the level of students' participation in the National School Meal Program in Brazil, and to identify the factors that influence their adherence to the program. METHODS: The research was based on a sample conformed by ten Brazilian municipalities, being localized, each two of them in one of the five geographic regions. Data were collected in the schools and interviews were conducted with 2.678 students. Students' gender, age, feeding practices, nutritional status, and socioeconomic conditions were taken into account by the adopted statistical model. The chi-square test and logit model were employed as means to identify simultaneous influences of the factors involved. RESULTS: It was verified that 46% of the students consumed the school meals on a daily basis, whereas 17% didn't participate in the Program. Such factors as per capita family income, level of educational of parents, student's nutritional status and frequency of food consumption at the commercial establishment at school are contrariwise associated to the daily Program participation. Nutritional status was the only factor inversely associated with daily adherence to the Program in schools where no commercial food establishment was available. CONCLUSION: It may well be concluded that the participation in the Brazilian National School Meal Program is low and, although designed to be universal in scope, in practice, it appears to be restricted, benefiting mostly students with nutritional status at risk, from families of lower income and educational levels. It is expected that the present study will contribute to program reforms, adapting it to a wider range of characteristics, which should be more appealing to the potential beneficiaries. Additionally, these data should afford the basis for future researches, in order to identify the causes of program rejection by a substantial portion of the students.
school feeding; students; public policies; food and nutrition program
