Avaliação da qualidade dos cardápios de escolas públicas do estado de Alagoas pela ferramenta IQ COSAN

Abstract

Introduction: Evaluating the quality of school menus in public schools is essential to ensure that states and municipalities comply with the guidelines established by the National School Feeding Program (PNAE). This analysis can be conducted in a standardized manner using the Quality Index of the Coordination of Food and Nutritional Security (IQ COSAN), a tool that allows for assessing nutritional adequacy, food diversity, and compliance with the program's criteria. Objective: This descriptive observational study aimed to analyze the quality of school menus in various state schools in Alagoas, based on the parameters established by the National School Feeding Program (PNAE). Material and Methods: The research was conducted on the 2023 menu. The menu inspection was carried out directly using the IQ COSAN tool, which considered the parameters established by the PNAE, including the recognition of regional food offerings, sociobiodiversity, menu diversity/variety, the quantity of food provided weekly, and the presence of food products prohibited by current legislation. Results and Discussion: Based on the evaluation of the described parameters, the menu was classified as inadequate (0-45.9 points), needs improvement (46-75.9 points), or adequate (76-95 points). The analysis of the menus allowed for identifying potential shortcomings as well as areas for improvement, contributing to the implementation of the PNAE in municipal public schools in Alagoas. Additionally, it provided a basis for corrective measures aimed at enhancing the program's efficiency. Final Considerations: The results obtained from the analysis indicated an average score of 65.25 points, highlighting that the menu requires improvements. The findings revealed a low presence of foods such as vegetables and greens, foods rich in iron and vitamin A, along with the inclusion of ultra-processed items.