This study sought to describe the changes in the food security status in Brazil before and during its most recent financial and political crisis, as well as to explore associations between food security and socioeconomic factors during the crisis. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from two different sources: the Brazilian National Household Sample Survey for 2004 (n = 112,479), 2009 (n = 120,910), and 2013 (n = 116,192); and the Gallup World Poll for 2015 (n = 1,004), 2016 (n = 1,002), and 2017 (n = 1,001). Household food security status was measured by a shorter version of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, consisting of the first 8 questions of the original 14-item scale. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the changes in food security and their association with socioeconomic factors. Results suggest that during the crisis the percentage of households classified as food secure declined by one third (76% in 2013 to 49% in 2017) while severe food insecurity tripled (4% in 2013 to 12% in 2017). Whereas before the crisis (2013) 44% of the poorest households were food secure, by 2017 this decreased to 26%. Household income per capita was strongly associated with food security, increasing by six times the chances of being food insecure among the poorest strata. Those who reported a low job climate, social support or level of education were twice as likely to be food insecure. Despite significant improvements between 2004 and 2013, findings indicate that during the crisis Brazil suffered from a great deterioration of food security, highlighting the need for emergency policies to protect and guarantee access to food for the most vulnerable.

Ending hunger and achieving food security is Goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals but will be difficult to achieve as many countries experience financial and political shocks. This study assesses changes in the status of food security in Latin America (LA) during the region's recent economic recession (2014 to 2017). This cross-sectional study used Gallup World Poll data from 18 LA countries (n = 65,146) from 2014 to 2017. Food security status was measured by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the changes in food security and logistic regression was applied to investigate associations between food security and socioeconomic and individual factors. Findings showed that LA suffered a significant decrease in food security (from 51% to 43%) and an increase in moderate (13% to 16%) and severe food insecurity (14% to 19%). However, El Salvador and Honduras, which are benefiting from long-term political and financial stability presented an opposite trend. Although food security decreased in Chile and Uruguay, they still had the two highest prevalences of food security in 2017 (67% and 62%, respectively). As seen in other regions, food insecurity was strongly associated with poverty, low education, having three or more children in the household, lack of social support and poor wellbeing. Women were more likely to report food insecurity, but the elderly (60+) were less likely. Findings highlight that economic and social policies are needed to tackle this progressive deterioration of food security and guarantee the right to food if LA is to achieve 2030 targets.

This is an experience report about the implementation of a Municipal Protocol of Special Diets, to attend to those with special dietary needs, using blenderized tube feeding. The objective of this experience was the strengthening of this health care network, due to its increasing demand and lack of public budget. Prior to this Protocol, the municipality provided 50% of the patient's nutritional needs through industrialized formulas, the rest should be funded by the family. The objectives of this Protocol were: to guarantee 100% of the patient's nutritional needs, through blenderized diets; increase the number of nutritionists to enable nutritional monitoring at home; and ensure its financial viability. For that, enteral diets for adults and children -of 1,500 Kcal, 1,800 Kcal and 2,100 Kcal -were prepared based on formulas previously analyzed. The formulas consisted of a mixture of basic foods and industrialized enteral diet, provided by the municipality. After 1 year of its implementation, the average cost per patient treated with enteral formulas fell by 48%, which allowed the hiring of more nutritionists for the City's Primary Health Care. As a space for discussion and support, this initiative had a Working Group on nutritional care in enteral therapy, composed of nutritionists from neighboring municipalities and the Regional Council of Nutritionists of Paraná. It is hoped that this work will stimulate the sharing of governmental experiences focused on the nutritional care of people with special dietary needs.

Enquanto crises econômicas desencadeiam o aumento da insegurança alimentar (IA) e da desigualdade de gênero (DG), o apoio social tem mostrado aliviar esses impactos. No entanto, diferentemente de outros choques econômicos, a pandemia de Covid-19 incluiu no cenário de crise o isolamento social. Este estudo utilizou dados de pesquisa transversal coletados em 18 países da América Latina (AL) para avaliar as mudanças nas percepções de DG e sua associação com a IA e o apoio social durante período de crise econômica na região. Os resultados mostraram aumentos graduais nas percepções de DG na AL e que os entrevistados com IA e baixo apoio social eram os mais propensos a perceber a DG. Mulheres são mais vulneráveis à IA e à violência doméstica, e o isolamento social pode ser um agravante. Políticas públicas devem garantir que mulheres tenham maior controle sobre a renda e bens produtivos.

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