Economic adjustment and nutrition policies: evaluation of a school- lunch programme in Brazil

Abstract

Most studies analysing Brazil's school-lunch programme focused on operational efficiency. In other words, their primary objective was to evaluate the process of buying and distributing food. To assess the effects of food transferred to the beneficiaries, questions were posed on how the participating families perceive the programme, and whether the programme augments food availability for the beneficiaries and enhances nutrient consumption among low-income families. The author concludes that the programme is effective in augmenting the availability of calories and protein among recipients and so can be considered a powerful instrument for protecting poorer target groups from a deterioration in nutrition status caused by economic crisis or by the process of economic adjustment. -from Author