Contribution of ultra-processed food to the nutritional dietary profile of young children school feeding

Abstract

Objective To investigate the contribution of ultra-processed food to the nutritional dietary profile of school feeding in public child day-care centers. Methods Cross-sectional study carried out from June-November/2013. Samples from six daily meals were collected in twenty non-consecutive days. A total of 117 school meals (123 food items) were offered to children from 12-36 months of age. The served portions were determined by direct weighting. Physicochemical analyses were performed to establish the nutritional composition. School meals were classified according to the processing degree: (A) unprocessed/minimally processed/culinary preparations, (B) processed food, or (C) ultra-processed food. The contribution of each group to the quantity of energy, macronutrients and sodium was calculated. Student’s t test was applied for comparison between groups. Results Ultra-processed meals contributed to 45.8% of energy, 33.9% of lipids, 42.8% of proteins, 48.9% of carbohydrates, and 20.9% of sodium. All lunches and 90% of dinners were classified as unprocessed/minimally processed/culinary preparations. 39.0% of the meals were ultra-processed (mainly breakfast and snacks). Ultra-processed meals had a greater quantity of energy (p=0.026) and carbohydrates (p<0.001) per serving, while unprocessed/minimally processed/ culinary preparations offered more sodium per serving (p<0.001). Conclusion Although most meals were classified as unprocessed/minimally processed/culinary preparations, ultra-processed food, which should be avoided at this stage of life, are offered daily, contributing with higher energy and carbohydrates offer per serving. The municipality need to improve the quality of the meals offered to children in these child day-care centers, observing the new Resolution nº 6/2020 that came into effect in 2021.