O Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar no poder legislativo brasileiro: um estudo exploratório

Abstract

The National School Feeding Program (PNAE) is considered the oldest Brazilian public policy in the area of Food and Nutritional Security (SAN), being one of the largest, most extensive and long-lasting in combating hunger and malnutrition in the area of school feeding. of the world. The objective of the work is to analyze the legislative projects on the PNAE in the Brazilian legislative branch. The methodology involved documentary research on legislative projects related to the PNAE that aimed to change and/or update the Program. The sources for the research were the websites of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. 107 legislative projects were identified, of which (87.9%) were from the Chamber of Deputies. The majority were bills (93.5%) and were presented between 2019-2022 (48.6%). The proposals address several issues, highlighting those that strengthen the PNAE, such as encouraging healthy eating, annual adjustment of the per capita value and school meals during the pandemic. However, some proposals weaken the program by imposing the mandatory inclusion of specific foods, compromising the autonomy of nutritionists. Therefore, the results reflect a complex legislative dynamic, with proposals that both strengthen and present challenges to the PNAE.