Food and nutrition surveillance actions in Brazil and Portugal: a comparative documentary analysis

Abstract

Food and nutrition surveillance is fundamental to the formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of public policies on food and nutrition. The comparative analysis of the evolution of food and nutrition surveillance actions between countries makes it possible to learn about advances, challenges and innovations for the planning of interventions. This study aimed to describe and compare food and nutrition surveillance actions in Brazil and Portugal, countries with different geographical dimensions and socio-economic profiles, but with the common characteristic of having a universal healthcare system. We manually searched for documents describing food and nutrition surveillance actions and for potential data sources on the institutional websites of the Brazilian and Portuguese governments. The recommendations of the READ approach were used (59 documents were identified for Brazil and 29 for Portugal). In Brazil, food and nutrition surveillance actions are included in health policies and in the constraints of conditional cash transfer programs. The Brazilian Households Budget Surveys and health surveys are used simultaneously with the Brazilian National Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN). In Portugal, food and nutrition surveillance actions are part of health policies, via the National Program and the Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating. Among the data sources identified are the Portuguese Food Balance Sheet and household budget, health and food surveys, as well as initiatives to monitor the nutritional status of children and adolescents. In both countries, strategies need to be improved in terms of the regularity of data recording, the harmonization of food consumption indicators and the dissemination of information.