QUALITY-CONTROL OF FOOD-PRODUCTS PURCHASED BY THE NATIONAL SCHOOL-FEEDING PROGRAM IN PERNAMBUCO, NORTHEAST BRAZIL, FROM 1985 TO 1988

The effectiveness of the Quality Control System (QCS) implemented by t he Fundacao de Assistencia ao Escolar (FAE) for quality control of foo d products from different types and origins purchased by the National School-Feeding Programme (NSFP) in Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil, was e valuated. Physicochemical, microbiological, microscopical and organope tical analyses were performed in 4,860 food samples and the main cause s of alterations were detected. Perishability was the characteristic u sed for distribution of food items into 3 main groups: A, B, and C. In accordance with 972 Quality Certificates between 1985 and 1988, 31.89 of the samples were rejected. The main reasons for rejection were inn acuracies of net weight and drained weight and high moisture contents. Group B presented the smallest number of altered samples (27%); for G roups A and C these values were 33% and 44%, respectively. Our data le ad to the conclusion that the QCS implemented by FAE is of paramount i mportance for an adequate quality control of foods provided to benefic iaries and for a good cost effectiveness of the school-feeding program me.