Nutrition-related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for children
Background. In order to improve the quality of nutrition in care and educational institutions, in year 2015 a restrictive law regulation was introduced. The following year this regulation was withdrawn, and a new legal policy has been introduced. However, data on the impact of these legislations on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://wydawnictwa.pzh.gov.pl/roczniki_pzh/pobierz-artykul?id=1219 |
| _version_ | 1818335174169985024 |
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| author | Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak Anna Harton |
| author_facet | Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak Anna Harton |
| author_sort | Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. In order to improve the quality of nutrition in care and educational institutions, in year 2015 a restrictive law regulation was introduced. The following year this regulation was withdrawn, and a new legal policy has been introduced. However, data on the impact of these legislations on nutrition in kindergartens are lacking.
Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate the compliance with mandatory nutrition recommendations in preschools.
Material and methods. The study included 706 institutions. Data were collected during the periods when two consecutive Regulation of the Minister of Health were in force (I - 01.09.2015 - 31.08. 2016 and II - 01.09.2016 to 30.05.2017). Data were obtained by face-to-face interviews with staff with a validated questionnaire. Parameters characterizing the quality of nutrition were analyzed with focus on compliance with legal regulations. 706 decade’s menus and 7060 daily inventory reports were analyzed to verify information on vegetables and fruit supply, frequency of frying and type of fat used, sweetening and salting practices. Statistical significances were determined in Statistica 13.1 with t-Student and Chi2 tests (p< 0.05).
Results. The preschools have implemented regulations concerning the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables (~93%), the amount of fried dish per week (~75%), and the use of suitable frying fat (~95%). About half of institutions managed to serve vegetables and/or fruits in every meal. Compliance with the regulations on sweetening and salting was unsatisfactory: about ¼ of institutions used banned sugar, and 46% regular salt.
Conclusions. Legislations influenced nutrition practices in preschools, but additional support is needed to bring all institutions into compliance with the current policies. The current law regulations are general, and allow a great flexibility in planning menus, which might has an adverse effect on menus quality. Therefore, nutrition education and more detailed mandatory nutrition standards for kindergartens are crucial. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:19:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90350a909efc448fb205b46ed7fd7d6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0035-7715 2451-2311 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:19:14Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny |
| spelling | doaj.art-90350a909efc448fb205b46ed7fd7d6c2022-12-21T23:42:09ZengNational Institute of Public Health - National Institute of HygieneRoczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny0035-77152451-23112018-03-017013136Nutrition-related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for childrenJoanna Myszkowska-Ryciak0Anna Harton1Warsaw University of Life Science - SGGW, Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Chair of Dietetics, Department of Dietetics, Warsaw, PolandWarsaw University of Life Science - SGGW, Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Chair of Dietetics, Department of Dietetics, Warsaw, PolandBackground. In order to improve the quality of nutrition in care and educational institutions, in year 2015 a restrictive law regulation was introduced. The following year this regulation was withdrawn, and a new legal policy has been introduced. However, data on the impact of these legislations on nutrition in kindergartens are lacking. Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate the compliance with mandatory nutrition recommendations in preschools. Material and methods. The study included 706 institutions. Data were collected during the periods when two consecutive Regulation of the Minister of Health were in force (I - 01.09.2015 - 31.08. 2016 and II - 01.09.2016 to 30.05.2017). Data were obtained by face-to-face interviews with staff with a validated questionnaire. Parameters characterizing the quality of nutrition were analyzed with focus on compliance with legal regulations. 706 decade’s menus and 7060 daily inventory reports were analyzed to verify information on vegetables and fruit supply, frequency of frying and type of fat used, sweetening and salting practices. Statistical significances were determined in Statistica 13.1 with t-Student and Chi2 tests (p< 0.05). Results. The preschools have implemented regulations concerning the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables (~93%), the amount of fried dish per week (~75%), and the use of suitable frying fat (~95%). About half of institutions managed to serve vegetables and/or fruits in every meal. Compliance with the regulations on sweetening and salting was unsatisfactory: about ¼ of institutions used banned sugar, and 46% regular salt. Conclusions. Legislations influenced nutrition practices in preschools, but additional support is needed to bring all institutions into compliance with the current policies. The current law regulations are general, and allow a great flexibility in planning menus, which might has an adverse effect on menus quality. Therefore, nutrition education and more detailed mandatory nutrition standards for kindergartens are crucial.http://wydawnictwa.pzh.gov.pl/roczniki_pzh/pobierz-artykul?id=1219preschoollegislationfoodnutritionchildren |
| spellingShingle | Joanna Myszkowska-Ryciak Anna Harton Nutrition-related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for children Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny preschool legislation food nutrition children |
| title | Nutrition-related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for children |
| title_full | Nutrition-related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for children |
| title_fullStr | Nutrition-related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutrition-related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for children |
| title_short | Nutrition-related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for children |
| title_sort | nutrition related practices in kindergartens in the context of changes to legal regulations on foodstuffs used in canteen menus for children |
| topic | preschool legislation food nutrition children |
| url | http://wydawnictwa.pzh.gov.pl/roczniki_pzh/pobierz-artykul?id=1219 |
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