Healthy Canteen Certification Seal: a proposal for the promotion of appropriate and healthy diets in school canteens

RODRIGUES, Angelina Cruz; FAGUNDES, Andhressa; GABRIEL, Cristine Garcia; SILVA, Gabriela Brito de Lima; MARCOLINO, Philipe Cachoeira; RECINE, Elisabetta

doi:10.1590/1678-9865202235e210243

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ORIGINAL • Rev Nutr 35 • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865202235e210243 copy

Healthy Canteen Certification Seal: a proposal for the promotion of appropriate and healthy diets in school canteens

Selo de Certificação Cantina Saudável: uma proposta para a promoção da alimentação adequada e saudável em cantinas escolares

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective

Although school is considered a suitable space for health promotion, there have been difficulties adopting healthy eating practices due to many ultra-processed foods offered in school canteens and irregularities in Food and Nutrition Education actions. This study aimed to propose a certification seal to encourage school canteens’ managers in Brazil to adopt actions for the Promotion of Appropriate and Healthy Diets.

Methods

It is a methodological study in which the “Healthy Canteen Certification Seal” was developed, containing ten guidelines based on the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population. The instrument was built based on national and international documents and later was consensually agreed upon by experts using the Delphi method.

Results

Ten guidelines for the Seal were developed around the following topics: the creation of a Council, availability of written and accessible standards; stimulation of water intake; offer of natural foods, limitation of processed and ultra-processed foods, promotion of educational actions, prohibition of abusive food advertisements, structural changes, and staff training. The overall evaluation of the proposal by the experts was positive concerning its relevance, and more than 70% of positive results were attained for all guidelines. The participants agreed that the Seal would contribute to expanding and enhancing healthy eating practices in schools.

Conclusion

We believe that this proposal will encourage educational institutions to adopt and implement actions for the Promotion of Appropriate and Healthy Diets, thus contributing to ensuring Food and Nutrition Safety for students.

Keywords
School feeding; Diet, healthy; Evaluation study; Nutrition programs and policies

Guidelines before consensus	Guidelines after consensus
1^st guideline – To create a Healthy School Canteen Council with the purpose of defining strategies to favor healthy food choices by children and adolescents and monitoring the actions related to the Promotion of Appropriate and Healthy Eating	1^st guideline – no changes
2^nd guideline – To use educational and positive communication for the Promotion of Appropriate and Healthy Eating in schools using educational advertisement (banners, posters, boards)	2^nd guideline – To use educational and positive communication for the Promotion of Appropriate and Healthy Eating in schools.
3^rd guideline – To increase the offer of in natural foods or minimally processed foods	3^rd guideline – No changes
4^th guideline – To restrict the sale of processed foods, which should not exceed 50% of the foods offered by the school canteen.	4^th guideline – To restrict progressively the sale of processed foods by the school canteen
5^th guideline – Not to allow the sale of ultra-processed foods in the school canteen.	5^th guideline – To restrict progressively the sale of ultra-processed foods by the School Canteen.
6^th guideline – To organize the place where the school canteen is installed. Present the foods attractively.	6^th guideline – To organize the place where the school canteen is installed. Present the healthy foods attractively.
7^th guideline – To train the canteen’s manager and staff on strategies for the Promotion of Appropriate and Healthy Eating and Best Food Handling Practices in foodservices.	7^th guideline – No changes.
8^th guideline – To prohibit the use of advertisements (posters or any other means) of processed and overprocessed foods.	8^th guideline – To prohibit the use of advertisements (posters or any other means) of processed and overprocessed foods in these establishments.
9^th guideline – To encourage the students and other members of the school community to drink water.	9^th guideline – No changes.
10^th guideline – To provide a norm in writing for the implementation of “Healthy Canteen”, which must be routinely transmitted to all staff members.	10^th guideline – No changes.

Proposed guidelines	M	SD	Agreement (%)	Q1	Q3	Inter. Diff.
1^st: Creation of a Council	3.5	0.6	091.9	3	4	1
2^nd: Promotion of educational actions	3.6	0.7	089.2	3	4	1
3^rd: More offer of fresh, in natural foods	4.0	0.2	100.0	4	4	0
4^th: Restricted offer of processed foods	3.4	0.7	100.0	4	4	1
5^th: Restricted offer of ultra-processed foods	3.7	0.5	094.6	4	4	0
6^th: Improvement of the school canteen environment	3.8	0.2	100.0	4	4	0
7^th: Staff training	3.8	0.7	091.9	4	4	0
8^th: Banning abusive advertisements of foods	4.0	0.2	100.0	4	4	0
9^th: Sale of drinking water	3.7	0.2	091.2	4	4	0
10^th: Having a norm for Healthy School Canteen	3.8	0.6	094.6	4	4	0

Question	Yes (%)
Will the seal help increase and improve healthy eating by children and adolescents?	37 (100)
Do you agree that adherence to the Seal is at the discretion of canteen managers/owners	30 (81.1)
Free adherence will ensure self-accountability?	30 (81.1)
Do you agree with the title proposed for the Seal?	32 (86.5)
Support to the Seal by a public or international body will provide better visibility to the school?	36 (97.3)
Should the school comply with 100% of the ten guidelines?	33 (89.2)
After knowing the proposal, do you still think that the school canteen should comply with 100% of the guidelines?	29 (78.4)
Is the proposal viable to be implemented in school canteens?	34 (91.9)

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[1] Correspondence to: A FAGUNDES. E-mail: andhressa@academico.ufs.br.