Public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy—fat products
IntroductionEnsuring a sustainable and responsible diet, particularly in the procurement of fatty products, holds paramount importance for early childhood development. Dietary fats significantly influence children’s growth and well-being, both in the short and long term. Schools and kindergartens pl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1265745/full |
| _version_ | 1827330730828496896 |
|---|---|
| author | Katarzyna Magdalena Brukało Justyna Nowak Aleksandra Pietrzykowska Neza Fras Petra Ožbolt Oskar Kowalski Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš |
| author_facet | Katarzyna Magdalena Brukało Justyna Nowak Aleksandra Pietrzykowska Neza Fras Petra Ožbolt Oskar Kowalski Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš |
| author_sort | Katarzyna Magdalena Brukało |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionEnsuring a sustainable and responsible diet, particularly in the procurement of fatty products, holds paramount importance for early childhood development. Dietary fats significantly influence children’s growth and well-being, both in the short and long term. Schools and kindergartens play a pivotal role in shaping children’s dietary habits. This study aims to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze public procurement orders conducted by educational institutions.Materials and methodsOut of 1,126 public procurement orders, 197 met inclusion criteria, leading to the identification of 1,248 products categorized as sources of fats in children’s diets. The study conducted both quantitative and qualitative analyses on the identified products.ResultsCriteria commonly employed by purchasers were derived from product descriptions. While product composition, especially fat content and the absence of certain additives, received due attention, organoleptic characteristics criteria were frequently overlooked. Sustainable procurement criteria were given the least consideration. The study highlights a notable reliance on vegetable oils, predominantly rapeseed oil. However, it reveals a worrisome prevalence of animal-derived fats, including butter, mayonnaise, pork belly, and lard. Although plant-based fats constitute around 52.77% of total orders, the substantial presence of animal fats poses challenges to maintaining a balanced and healthy diet for children.ConclusionThe study underscores the necessity of establishing specific criteria for evaluating the quality of delivered products, especially fatty items, in educational settings. Standardized guidelines are crucial to promote healthier food choices, encourage sustainable diets, and ultimately enhance the overall health and well-being of children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T16:21:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a2badb6fef04c049c1e21d0d1e29eb0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T16:21:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a2badb6fef04c049c1e21d0d1e29eb02024-03-04T04:52:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2024-03-01810.3389/fsufs.2024.12657451265745Public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy—fat productsKatarzyna Magdalena Brukało0Justyna Nowak1Aleksandra Pietrzykowska2Neza Fras3Petra Ožbolt4Oskar Kowalski5Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš6Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Health Policy Department, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, PolandDepartment of Metabolic Disease Prevention, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, PolandStudent Scientific Circle, Department of Metabolic Disease Prevention, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, PolandHealthy Lifestyle Promotion Department, National Institute for Public Health, Ljubljana, SloveniaHealthy Lifestyle Promotion Department, National Institute for Public Health, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, PolandHealthy Lifestyle Promotion Department, National Institute for Public Health, Ljubljana, SloveniaIntroductionEnsuring a sustainable and responsible diet, particularly in the procurement of fatty products, holds paramount importance for early childhood development. Dietary fats significantly influence children’s growth and well-being, both in the short and long term. Schools and kindergartens play a pivotal role in shaping children’s dietary habits. This study aims to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze public procurement orders conducted by educational institutions.Materials and methodsOut of 1,126 public procurement orders, 197 met inclusion criteria, leading to the identification of 1,248 products categorized as sources of fats in children’s diets. The study conducted both quantitative and qualitative analyses on the identified products.ResultsCriteria commonly employed by purchasers were derived from product descriptions. While product composition, especially fat content and the absence of certain additives, received due attention, organoleptic characteristics criteria were frequently overlooked. Sustainable procurement criteria were given the least consideration. The study highlights a notable reliance on vegetable oils, predominantly rapeseed oil. However, it reveals a worrisome prevalence of animal-derived fats, including butter, mayonnaise, pork belly, and lard. Although plant-based fats constitute around 52.77% of total orders, the substantial presence of animal fats poses challenges to maintaining a balanced and healthy diet for children.ConclusionThe study underscores the necessity of establishing specific criteria for evaluating the quality of delivered products, especially fatty items, in educational settings. Standardized guidelines are crucial to promote healthier food choices, encourage sustainable diets, and ultimately enhance the overall health and well-being of children.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1265745/fullpublic food procurementfood policyfat productsschools and kindergartensnutrition policysustainability |
| spellingShingle | Katarzyna Magdalena Brukało Justyna Nowak Aleksandra Pietrzykowska Neza Fras Petra Ožbolt Oskar Kowalski Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš Public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy—fat products Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems public food procurement food policy fat products schools and kindergartens nutrition policy sustainability |
| title | Public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy—fat products |
| title_full | Public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy—fat products |
| title_fullStr | Public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy—fat products |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy—fat products |
| title_short | Public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy—fat products |
| title_sort | public food procurement as a tool of sustainable food and nutrition policy fat products |
| topic | public food procurement food policy fat products schools and kindergartens nutrition policy sustainability |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1265745/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katarzynamagdalenabrukało publicfoodprocurementasatoolofsustainablefoodandnutritionpolicyfatproducts AT justynanowak publicfoodprocurementasatoolofsustainablefoodandnutritionpolicyfatproducts AT aleksandrapietrzykowska publicfoodprocurementasatoolofsustainablefoodandnutritionpolicyfatproducts AT nezafras publicfoodprocurementasatoolofsustainablefoodandnutritionpolicyfatproducts AT petraozbolt publicfoodprocurementasatoolofsustainablefoodandnutritionpolicyfatproducts AT oskarkowalski publicfoodprocurementasatoolofsustainablefoodandnutritionpolicyfatproducts AT mojcagabrijelcicblenkus publicfoodprocurementasatoolofsustainablefoodandnutritionpolicyfatproducts |