The present study is part of a major project, entitled "Assessment of Public Policy in Food and Nutrition Implemented in the state of Bahia, between 1994-1997". The objective was to recognise how alternative food is being used in population with low income in Bahia as well as to identify their perceptions of these practices. Questionnaires were applied in 1.380 domiciles in urban and rural areas spread over 36 cities. The study revealed that 57.2% of the population has already heard about alternative food and, among these, 46.8% have used this food strategy. The main disseminator of the use of alternative food was, as expected, the "Pastoral da Criança"(Social Organization of the Catholic Church for Children) referred by 33.6% of the interviewees. This study also observed that 70.7% of the interviewees demonstrated a positive perception about alternative food as a strategy that contributes to improve the health conditions.
alternative food; nutrition; food habits; feeding methods
