Determinacion de la canasta basica de alimentos de la Fundacion Banco Arquidiocesano de alimentos de Bogota D.C

Background. The Bogot food-bank (BFF) has been aimed at retrieving (excess) fresh and manufactured products for delivery to vulnerable groups in Bogota and some municipalities in the surrounding department of Cundinamarca since 2001. However, a basic food basket (BFB) has been established for determining a standardised delivery structure. Objective. Determining the BFB for establishing permanent and additional components of such package per specic population. Materials and methods. This observational, descriptive study was organised into four phases. The frequency of activities was analysed regarding requisition from foundations and the delivery and dispatch of goods by the food-bank. The second phase involved examining the external pattern of donations and the purchase process. The third stage involved estimating the food inventory during the study period and the BFB was determined by population characteristics and nutritional recommendations during the nal phase. The above information was entered into databases. Results. The BFB was made up of seven groups/types of Colombian food; a decoding system was instituted by group, subgroup and range. The BFB was nutritionally analysed by composition table, organised by pattern, portion and measured according to population group. Conclusions. The BFB compared to the Colombian standard met the standards dening it in terms of food and nutritional security. Such solid support ensured that communities really valued the products they received and facilitated the purchase of products which were not donated, thus improving nutritional quality and facilitating technical/administrative functions.