Meals served at a food and nutrition service: an evaluation of workers’ health

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional composition of meals served at a Food and Nutrition Service in relation to the nutritional parameters established by the Worker’s Food Program, and to evaluate the risk factors associated to the non-communicable chronic diseases found among the beneficiaries of the service. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted at the Food and Nutrition Service, located at a company that provides automotive services in the municipality of Curitiba, Paraná (PR), in October 2014. For data collection, information regarding the nutritional composition of meals served at midday was gathered. An anthropometric evaluation was conducted, and a questionnaire was applied to evaluate the lifestyle of 19 company employees. Results: In general, the total energy value (1,311.7 Kcal), proteins (19%), total fats (32%), fibers (21.14 g), sodium (1,828.6 mg), and the percentage of calories from proteins (12%) in the meals served were above the limits established by the Worker’s Food Program. It was found that 53% of the employees were overweight, 21% were smokers, 58% did not practice physical activity, and 32% presented some pathological condition, with the diagnosis of arterial hypertension reported by all the employees. Conclusion: The meals served at the Food and Nutrition Service evaluated did not meet the parameters established for worker’s nutrition, which could harm the health of beneficiaries, when associated to the main risk factors found among them, such as excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, and prevalence of arterial hypertension, besides the lack of compliance with Brazilian labor laws.