The National Food and Nutrition Policy emphasizes the importance of the Food and Nutritional Surveillance System (SISVAN), which has the purpose of determining descriptive and analytical diagnoses of the food and nutritional status of the Brazilian population. It thus contributes towards providing knowledge on the nature and magnitude of the country's nutritional problems. The present paper aimed to present the history of food and nutritional surveillance actions in Brazil, from the time of concept design to current practice. The surmounting limitations encountered over the years, strengthening obtained through legal milestones and challenges currently faced are highlighted. The view taken is that SISVAN can only be managed today through a combination of strategies. Of these, the main ones are the SISVAN information technology system, population-based surveys, Nutrition Days, and analysis of national healthcare databases, along with access to scientific production and funding for research on the topic.
Nutritional Surveillance; Monitoring; Nutritional status; Food consumption
