Sodium content of meals offered in a public school of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sodium content of the meals offered in a public school of the state of Minas Gerais (Brazil) and its adequacy with regard to the Brazilian School Meal Program. Meal samples were collected in the morning and in the afternoon shifts in 10 nonconsecutive days. In the 10 evaluated days, the amount of sodium offered per meal in both school shifts was above the amount recommended by the program (400 mg/meal). The significant difference was found between the sodium content offered in the afternoon (1062.9 ± 231.5 mg) and in the morning meals (807.1 ± 174.2).